HELENA (AP) -- The Senate gave nearly unanimous support Wednesday to a proposal that would shut down new donations to unregulated constituency accounts.

The chamber voted 49-1 to approve a bill by Rep. Diane Sands, D-Missoula, that would require state officials to make public the income and expenses of constancy accounts, which currently have no reporting requirements.

The Senate was less sure whether to amend the bill to prohibit any new donations to the accounts, but ultimately voted for the change 38-12. An almost identical bill proposed by Sen. Carol Williams, D-Missoula, that passed the Senate was effectively killed by the House.

Sen. Larry Jent, D-Bozeman, said the bill was necessary to counteract the mistrust the public had in its elected officials.

"If there's anything we can do on election bills that restores faith in government, we should do it."

Sen. Dan McGee, R-Laurel, cast the lone vote against the bill.