ATLANTA (AP) — The state Senate has overwhelmingly passed a slightly tweaked substitute measure to a House bill that apparently clears the way for Uber, Lyft and other ride sharing firms to keep operating in Georgia.

The substitute, which contained minor tweaks to the original bill by Rep. Alan Powell, a Republican from Hartwell, passed Thursday 48-2. A smiling Powell was in the House when the vote was taken.

Sen. Brandon Beach, an Alpharetta Republican, who spoke for the bill in the upper chamber, said Powell's measure had the support of "all parties" even though Uber and similar app-based technology firms have run into regulatory difficulty in other states.

Under the bill, cities will no longer issue medallions to taxis, except in Atlanta where the process will be phased out.