RALEIGH, N.C. – The North Carolina Senate has put off debate on a bill that would ban smoking at most work sites, restaurants and public places because some Democrats aren’t sold on the idea.

Democrats on Thursday pulled the bill from the Senate floor until the middle of next week. Majority Leader Tony Rand of Cumberland County said fellow Democrats discussed the bill and predicted a vote on passage would be very close right now.

The chamber had scheduled a floor vote just one day after a committee narrowly approved the measure.

The ban has been broadened to remove a large exemption for stand-alone bars or other places where someone must be 18 to work or patronize. The version that cleared the House floor three weeks ago had that exception.