MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A legislative committee has approved a bill that would make it easier to build on wetlands.

The Republican measure makes a number of subtle changes to the Department of Natural Resources' wetland-filling permitting process. Chief among them is a new requirement that the DNR consider project applicants' proposals to offset their projects' impact through mitigation, which could include purchasing credits, paying the DNR to support the agency's wetlands restoration efforts or creating new wetlands.

Under current state law, the DNR doesn't have to consider such mitigation proposals. The changes give an applicant another way to convince the agency they deserve a permit.

The Senate's natural resources committee approved the measure 4-3, clearing the way for a vote in the full Senate.