LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill to lift restrictions on nurse practitioners has won initial approval from Nebraska lawmakers.

Senators voted 35-2 on Friday to advance the measure through a first-round vote. An identical bill was passed last year but vetoed by then-Gov. Dave Heineman after lawmakers adjourned for the year.

The bill would remove a requirement that nurse practitioners secure a written agreement to consult with a doctor before they can practice in Nebraska. The agreements are designed to ensure a physician is available if a patient doesn’t respond to treatment.

Supporters of the bill say the requirement makes it harder to keep nurse practitioners in Nebraska. The Nebraska Medical Association says it opposes the bill because of concerns about patient safety.