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PHOENIX — The House on Monday approved a bill touted as a way to reduce air pollution in the Phoenix area and avoid triggering federal sanctions that could restrict construction projects and cut federal highway money.

However, supporters call the bill (SB1552) a work in progress that needs strengthening before it emerges from the Legislature.

The House approved the bill on a 35-21 vote. The Senate approved its version on a March 15 vote of 25-1.

A House-Senate conference committee will likely be appointed to work out still another version that could include provisions now not in either version.

If that doesn't happen during the current regular session, supporters say, lawmakers may have to return later in the year for a special session to comply with a year-end deadline for action set by the federal government.

The measure includes restrictions in the Phoenix area on hauling uncovered loads and on use of outdoor fires and leaf blowers on high-pollution-advisory days. Outdoor fires also would be completely banned from May 1-Sept. 30.

Provisions cut from the bill earlier would have subjected more vehicles to emissions testing in the Phoenix and Tucson areas, imposed new restrictions on farm tilling and implemented a new system to cumulatively measure requirements for anti-pollution steps.

While the bill was advancing through the Legislature, its chief sponsor was holding private negotiations with industry lobbyists, clean-air regulators and others in an attempt to work out a compromise.

The sponsor, Republican Sen. Carolyn Allen of Scottsdale, and other supporters say the stakes are high because Arizona faces federal clean-air mandates on levels of particulates and ozone. The government could impose penalties including highway fund cuts and requirements that business expansions be accompanied by steps to eliminate twice as much pollution as they will produce.

The bill drew criticism from some Republicans in House floor debate last week, with Rep. Eddie Farnsworth calling its provisions burdensome and unlikely to clean the air.

"The way we do business … is going to be highly restricted with very little benefit," said Farnsworth, R-Gilbert.

Other Republicans joined Democrats in defending the bill as necessary to deter federal sanctions.