BOSTON (AP) – Without debate, the House voted Wednesday to extend the state’s ban on the sale or import of military style semi-automatic weapons.

Supporters have said the bill is needed to guarantee the state prohibition will remain in effect even if Congress fails to renew a similar federal ban set to expire in September. Under current law, the state ban is tied to the federal ban and would automatically expire if Congress did not renew it.

The ban, approved as part of comprehensive gun control legislation in 1998, covers all assault weapons made after Sept. 13, 1994.

Included in the current bill is a provision that would establish a five-member firearm license review board to examine cases of individuals who were convicted of misdemeanor offenses early in life and had been barred from buying the weapons under the 1998 law.

Critics had said the law unfairly punished people who had turned their lives around and become law-abiding citizens.

The bill must receive one more round of approval from the House and the Senate before going to the governor’s desk.