The Missouri Senate has given first-round approval to a measure that would require public employee unions to seek annual consent to automatically deduct dues from members’ paychecks.

The Senate voted in the early hours of Tuesday morning after seven hours of debate.

Sponsoring Republican Sen. Dan Brown, of Rolla, says his bill protects workers and allows them to choose how their fees are spent.

It originally would have prohibited paycheck deductions for all public employees, but a compromise was struck to allow annual consent for paycheck deductions.

It also requires public employee unions to seek annual consent from members to use their dues on political contributions.

Unions representing first responders would be exempt from the measure. The measure needs one more vote before moving to the House.