ALABASTER, Alabama -- An annexation bill causing debate over the future of the Saddle Lake Farms subdivision near Alabaster cleared the Alabama Senate on Wednesday and awaits action by the Shelby County delegation in the state House.

State Sen. Cam Ward's bill for annexing a roughly 35-acre parcel into Alabaster's city limits cleared the Senate with a vote of 23 in favor, one abstention and zero in opposition.

The bill moved to the state House, where it was read for the first time Wednesday and referred to the committee on Shelby County legislation. Some believe the bill will not have support to clear the House due to opposition from nearby landowners, including Shelby County Republican Party Chairman Freddy Ard and others.

In an e-mail Wednesday night, state Rep. Kurt Wallace of Maplesville, who serves on the Shelby County committee, said lawmakers are considering the legislation.

"Myself and the other members of the delegation are continuing to search for workable solutions. We hope to be able to make a statement in the next couple of days," Wallace said.

State Rep. April Weaver of Alabaster, who serves as the Shelby County committee's vice chairwoman, provided a similar response in an e-mail. "The delegation continues to deliberate on the issue. We hope to have an answer soon," she said Wednesday night.

State Rep. Mike Hill of Columbiana, a member of the Shelby County committee, said in an e-mail the bill is a "work in progress right now."

"We just received the legislation today and are discussing the issue in hopes of a resolution that will satisfy all parties," Hill said Wednesday night.

None of the lawmakers responded directly to a question about whether each would vote in favor of the bill.

Also on the Shelby County committee are Reps. Mary Sue McClurkin, Jim Carns and Jim McClendon. Each did not respond to requests for comment on the issue Wednesday night.

The bill has generated vocal debate over not just the parcel in question, but also the future of the adjacent Saddle Lake Farms subdivision, where many of the 170-some households are hoping to join the city through annexation.

Some landowners in Saddle Lake Farms are opposed to possible city annexation of their subdivision, which would become contiguous to Alabaster's city limits through Ward's legislation. Others contend the bill deals solely with the 35-acre parcel, and lawmakers should not derail the subdivision residents' ability to vote on their own annexation into Alabaster.

The Alabaster City Council on Monday night approved an annexation that reaches close to property by Saddle Lake Farms. Without approval of the legislative annexation under consideration, some Saddle Lake Farms children instead of going to school a few miles away in Alabaster will start to attend class a dozen miles away in Columbiana this fall due to the school district separation agreement between Alabaster and Shelby County.