NASHVILLE (AP) - A proposal to allow student identification issued by state higher education institutions to be used for voting is advancing in the Senate.

The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro unanimously passed the Senate State and Local Government Committee 8-0 on Tuesday with little debate.

The proposal does not allow library cards issued by local governments, an issue that's been debated in court for about a year now.

The city of Memphis and two residents sued the state last year after election officials refused to accept a city-issued library card with a photo as voter identification.

The Tennessee Court of Appeals allowed Memphis residents to use the library card as identification to vote. The Supreme Court said last year that the library card could be used while the court was considering the case.