AUSTIN - The Lone Star State could soon be smokefree, if a bill introduced by state Sen. Rodney Ellis passes, KFDA-TV reports. Thus far, 28 states have statewide bans on smoking.

Under the proposal, smoking would be prohibited at all indoor and outdoor workplaces, including restaurants and bars, with exemptions for outdoor restaurant or bar patios set aside for smokers. Also exempt would be tobacco bars opened prior to 2013.

"Many restaurants now have made that decision to go totally nonsmoking, just because it makes more sense," said President of the Lubbock Restaurant Association David Deason in EverythingLubbock.com. However, he would rather businesses be able to make the decision themselves. "I still just don't think we have to have an ordinance telling us how to run a business because as business owners we are going to make the best decisions for our customers," he said.

This isn€™t the first time Ellis has proposed a smoking ban, and he has vowed to continue pushing for one if unsuccessful this year. Already, dozens of Texas cities have smoking bans, including Austin, which passed a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants in 2005.

In November, North Dakota voters approved a statewide, indoor smoking ban, which became law December 6.