The Arizona Senate has approved a proposal allowing electronic billboards in some areas of Mohave County where they are now banned to protect the region's astronomy industry.
Advocates of Senate Bill 1114 say the billboards will not be close to the state's observatories. Sponsor Republican Sen. Sonny Borrelli of Lake Havasu City says the legislation will only affect his district.
Opponents say the legislation would greatly threaten Arizona's dark skies and the work local astronomers do with three of the nation's largest telescopes.
The measure marks Borrelli's second attempt at adding parts of Mohave County to the areas where electronic billboards are allowed. A similar bill by him failed to pass last year.
Wednesday's 20-10 Senate vote sends the measure to the House for consideration.
