RALEIGH (AP) — The North Carolina House has passed a bill clearing the way for executions to resume in the state.

The House voted Wednesday to fully repeal a law that allows convicted murderers to reduce a death sentence to life in prison if they can prove that race played a major role in their cases.

Republicans already weakened the bill last year by restricting the use of statistics to prove bias and requiring other forms of evidence.

GOP lawmakers argue the bill has delayed justice by allowing nearly every death-row inmate to appeal their cases. Democrats point to a study and successful appeals in Cumberland County under the act as evidence that racial prejudice has tainted jury selection.

The Senate already passed the bill but must sign off on some minor changes.