St. Louis would lose control over its police force under a bill Missouri lawmakers approved Wednesday, possibly joining a few cities nationally where local elected officials don't fully manage law enforcement.

The bill now goes to Gov. Mike Kehoe, who made the state takeover of St. Louis Police one of his priorities. St. Louis' two police unions support the legislation, but the city mayor and police chief testified against it.

The Missouri Senate easily approved a state takeover plan for the police department over the objections of the city’s mayor and local senators. Four Democrats voted for the bill.