A bipartisan group of 51 lawmakers in the Iowa House sponsored a bill Thursday to overturn the prohibition of smoking in outdoor seating and serving areas of restaurants and bars.

House File 211 would also changes the legal definition of a bar by eliminating any reference to the amount of food served in relation to the consumption of alcohol. The final piece of the legislation allows actors and actresses involved in theatrical performances are to smoke as part of their role if the smoking is integral to the script or story line.

The bill addresses some of the concerns raised after passage of the state’s smoking ban, which took effect July 1. Democratic legislative leaders have said previously that a debate over changes to the smoking ban would not happen during the 2009 session.