A senator’s effort to protect wealthy beachfront property owners from what he considers unnecessary state enforcement cases received overwhelming support from fellow lawmakers Tuesday.

The Senate agriculture committee voted 13-2-1 for a bill that critics say would make it harder to enforce coastal laws while costing taxpayers potentially millions of dollars.

Pushed by Sen. Stephen Goldfinch, R-Georgetown, the bill was approved without any public testimony. It now goes to the full Senate for consideration.

“Goldfinch wants to get something done quickly and he doesn’t want to have any public debate,’’ coastal lawyer Amy Armstrong said after the Senate meeting in Columbia.

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