NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee officials would be prohibited from destroying public records that were being sought by the public under a proposal gaining traction inside the GOP-dominant Statehouse.

Senate lawmakers unanimously approved the measure Thursday. It must now clear the House chamber before it can head to the governor's desk.

The bill was introduced earlier this year after the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported the county attorney's office in Hamilton County destroyed the majority of the documents that were the subject of a records request submitted by the newspaper.

The newspaper had been fighting for months to obtain the records. During that battle, the county got permission from the Hamilton County Public Records Commission to destroy all records requests and responses after 30 days.

County Attorney Rheubin Taylor later told The Associated Press that he requested permission to destroy the records because he did not believe the paper was still interested in obtaining the documents.

Under the bill, government entities found violating the new rule would be subject to a $500 fine. It also requires that public records coordinators must keep "electronic correspondence" regarding public records requests for at least one year.