Senate Bill 77 passed 16-10 in its first vote, but several senators said "aye on two," a signal they may vote against the bill when it comes up for a final vote, as early as today.

"I still have questions," said Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, who voted for the measure Thursday.

SB77 would repeal a decade-long exemption in the Indoor Clean Air Act allowing patrons of bars and private clubs to light up as long as the owner allows it. The bill, though, would still allow country clubs and fraternal groups, such as the Elks Lodge, to have indoor smoking. Salt Lake International Airport also would be exempted.

"Most people don't realize how dangerous second-hand smoke really is," bill sponsor Sen. Mike Waddoups said, referring to the bill as a "workers' rights" issue. "This is a confined area with extreme levels of dangerous materials."

But he faced opposition from some senators from both parties.

"I suppose we're all going to die," said Sen. Bill Hickman, R-St. George. "Maybe the next thing we ought to do is ban red meat. . . . That's going to kill a bunch of us."

Restaurant chain magnate Tom Guinney has pushed the ban , saying he is concerned that his employees are stuck breathing second-hand smoke. He recently said he would ban smoking in his establishments Feb. 1.

A group of bar owners, though, contend the law already allows bars to ban smoking. Besides, they said, when people go to a bar, they know it's a smoking environment.

Sen. Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake City, tried to amend the bill to cut out all exceptions. His amendment would mean that smoking would be prohibited in all areas.

But that amendment failed after arguments that it was going too far.