Topeka ? State lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a bill that will restrict how Kansas cities can annex new territory.

The bill passed Wednesday by votes of 105-17 in the House and 31-6 in the Senate.

If Gov. Sam Brownback signs it, the bill will require a vote by property owners in the affected areas to approve any annexation of more than 40 acres. If voters rejected the annexation proposal, the issue couldn’t be raised again for four years.

And county commissions would have to approve an annexation by a two-thirds majority, rather than a simple majority.

The public would not vote on annexations of less than 40 acres, but the two-thirds approval requirement by the commission would remain. Cities would be allowed to annex land without a county commission vote in some circumstances.