The Arizona Senate has approved a bill that would make it illegal to pay voter initiative petition circulators based on the number of signatures they gather.

Senate Republicans said the measure is needed to cut signature gathering fraud.

But Democrats and voting rights activists said House Bill 2404 will make it harder to get citizen initiatives on the ballot.

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce-backed measure emerged after voters approved a minimum wage increase that was opposed by business groups.

The bill now goes back to the House.