A bill that would give Uber and other car-hailing services approval to keep operating in Georgia has passed the state Senate’s Science and Technology Committee.

The bill by Republican Rep. Alan Powell of Hartwell passed Thursday in a split vote. It could be headed for a vote soon on the Senate floor.

The legislation partly deregulates taxi and limousine companies, but also requires car-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft to conduct background checks on drivers, identify vehicles with tags of some sort and pay sales taxes or a per-car fee to the Georgia department of Revenue.

Another House bill by Republican Rep. Rich Golick of Smyrna would require car hailing companies to carry the same level of commercial liability insurance that’s required cabs and limousines.