Patrons could bring their dog along while eating in an outdoor area of a restaurant under legislation up for a vote in the Michigan Senate.
State law generally prohibits live animals at restaurants.
The bill -- which supporters say could boost tourism -- is expected to be approved by senators Wednesday and sent to the House.
It would allow dogs on restaurant patios under certain circumstances.
Dogs would have to be leashed and couldn't pass through the restaurant interior or sit in a chair or on a customer's lap. The patio would have to be free of dog hair. Surfaces contaminated by dog waste would have to be disinfected immediately.
The legislation wouldn't require restaurant owners to allow dogs, and local communities could pass ordinances prohibiting dogs at restaurants.
