The party-line vote tested the GOP's new found strength in the House.
The bill passed 53-45 after more than 90 minutes of debate. Just one Republican delegate supported the measure.
Its passage followed an earlier GOP-led effort to derail it. Democrats accused Republicans during both debates of hypocrisy and grandstanding. But GOP delegates believe that voters will take note of these and other party-line clashes as the session continues.
One Republican freshman says that allied groups contacted more than 40,000 voters in advance of the bill's passage Wednesday.
The contacts are part of a plan focused on the 2014 elections, to build on November's 11-seat GOP House gain.
