DENVER (AP) — A health insurance proposal popular with business groups but not all conservatives survived important tests Tuesday in Colorado's Republican House.

The bill to create a health insurance marketplace in which individuals and small business can pool together for lower premiums has already cleared Colorado's Democratic Senate, but its prospects were less clear in the Republican House. Some Republicans argue that because the new federal health care law requires states to set up exchanges, states should resist the move.

The measure cleared a House committee after some tea party supporters urged lawmakers to reject the idea. Not long after, Republicans seized momentum and passed the measure on to approval by the full House. One more vote is required before the House and Senate can start work rectifying differences to send the bill to Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, who supports the idea.