NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Smoking opponents said they finally have enough votes on Capitol Hill to make smoking at work illegal.

Video: Workplace Smoking Ban Could Soon Be Law

Randy Rayburn and his business partners, owners of Cabana and Sunset Grill, were some of the first restaurants to go smoke free.

Every restaurant, factory and office where Tennesseans work could be smoke free by law.

"The governor's bill to protect workers has a majority of co-sponsors,” said Chastity Mitchell of the Campaign For Healthy & Responsible Tennessee.

On the steps of the state Capitol, healthcare advocates and lawmakers said they're finally going to do what everyone thought was politically impossible -- ban smoking in nearly every Tennessee workplace.

The powerful restaurant association is onboard.

"We're looking at this state spending $680 million a year on healthcare costs, now we're looking at cutting that cost,” said Ronnie Hart of the Tennessee Restaurant Association.

Many of these lawmakers said voting in favor of the smoking ban is personal.

Sen. Roy Herron lost his father and sister to smoking-related illnesses.

"It's a national tragedy, a Tennessee tragedy and it needs to stop now,” he said.

Some songwriters want smoking in restaurants snuffed out for health reasons.

"It is a part of our job. We go to nightclubs to share our music and make connections,” said DiAnn Walkinshaw.

Many Tennessee voters said it's time to protect workers from secondhand smoke.

"It's progressive, especially in a state where smoking has been king for so long,” said Nashville resident Alan Stevens.

Others said small businesses will be hard to police.

"I also don't believe in passing laws that are unenforceable. There's no way to police what a few people are doing in private offices,” local resident Mike DeSalvo said.

Fifty-one House members and 18 Senators, a majority, have pledged to vote for this statewide smoking ban.