E-cigarette bill voting postponed

Delaware lawmakers were expected to vote Thursday on adding electronic cigarettes to the state’s indoor smoking ban; however, it did not happen.

Apparently, conflicting amendments to exempt businesses that sell electronic cigarettes from the ban forced the postponement of Thursday’s scheduled vote until next week.

Currently, the 12-year-old law prohibits smoking in restaurants, bars and other public places. The new bill would add e-cigarettes to that, but it would exempt businesses that sell the devices.

E-cigarettes do not contain tobacco and are not regulated by the FDA; however, bill sponsors argue that e-cigarette emissions do contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals.

North Dakota, Utah and New Jersey, already prohibit smoking e-cigarettes indoors.