Alabama moved closer to setting up statewide regulations for ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft with a bill that passed the House of Representatives today.

The House voted 97-3 in favor of the bill after about three hours of debate, mostly over efforts to add specific prohibitions against discrimination.

The Senate passed a similar bill last week by a vote of 28-0.

About 15 Alabama cities have regulations for transportation network companies.

Advocates for a statewide law say it would help make ride services available statewide and create job opportunities for those who want to be drivers.

The bill by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, would have ride-sharing companies collect a 1 percent fee on each fare. The money would go to the Public Service Commission, which would issue permits and regulate the companies.

The PSC could keep up to 50 percent of the fee revenue to cover the cost of regulation and would distribute the rest to cities and counties where rides originate.

Uber and Lyft support legislation setting up statewide regulations.

Faulkner said it's important to bring ride-sharing to areas that don't have it, including rural areas.

"It's about jobs, thousands of jobs all across the state," Faulkner said. "It's also about affordable, convenient transportation."

Faulkner said he expects either his bill or the Senate bill, sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, to get final passage and go to Gov. Kay Ivey, who has endorsed the legislation.