After nearly three hours of debate, an omnibus bill aimed at creating barriers against undocumented immigrants obtaining jobs or public benefits gained preliminary Senate approval on Thursday in a 21-8 vote.

The debate was spread out through the morning and afternoon sessions in the Senate and included multiple amendments — made at the request of business and religious groups — which seemed to strengthen support for the bill in the Senate and with business organizations, including the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce.

After the vote, Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, said the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce's decision to support the measure Thursday "helps a lot." And, he said, Sen. Bob Bennett's recent statement that it may be five years before Congress acts on immigration reform "added some exclamation points."

However, several questions surfaced in the debate and some of those who voted yes to move SB81 to a final vote said they weren't sure they'd support it when it comes up for final Senate approval.

Still, Hickman says he's confident he'll have the support of the Senate when the bill is up for that vote today, along with three other immigration provisions, including one that would create a task force to study the issue.

It was question after question Thursday, and the measure's sponsor, Sen. Bill Hickman, R-St. George, often consulted with counsel before answering.

When asked about the specific impact of SB81 on the costs associated with education, health care and crime, Hickman replied, "This bill is primarily designed to minimize the employment opportunities for individuals who are coming to our state illegally, and by so doing, hopefully we will see a reduction in those costs and the impact on our state society."

When asked if Al Qaida would qualify as a religious organization, Hickman replied, "In an attempt to continue this conversation in a sane manner, I'm going to reply, I don't know."

Valentine said he is a little concerned about the employment verification requirements raised during the debate but said it helps that those provisions won't take effect until July 1, 2009. He also echoed concerns raised on the floor about whether a provision against sheltering or harboring undocumented immigrants knowing, or in reckless disregard of their status, would subject landlords to a class A misdemeanor.

That question about landlords was a key provision that arose during Thursday's debate. Another was whether community health clinics would be forced to check patients' legal status. And it was also called into question whether drivers would have to prove their citizenship to renew their drivers' licenses.