Missouri lawmakers pass cell tower bill

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri lawmakers have given final approval to a bill limiting the ability of Missouri cities and counties to restrict cellphone towers.

The bill passed Wednesday by both the House and Senate seeks to reinstate a state law originally enacted last year that was struck down by a Cole County judge on procedural grounds.

The legislation imposes 19 new restrictions on the way governments can regulate cellphone towers.

For example, it prohibits them from evaluating applications for cellphone towers based on alternative locations or requiring the removal of existing equipment for applications to be approved. It also caps application fees and sets deadlines for governments to make decisions on applications.

The legislation now goes to Gov. Jay Nixon.