TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida Senate has unanimously approved a bill that gives citizens a right to speak at meetings of local government and state executive branch bodies.

Senators approved the bill (SB 206) on Tuesday by a vote of 40-0.

Republican Sen. Joe Negron of Stuart filed the bill in response to appellate court rulings. The courts ruled that Florida's open-government "sunshine law" requires officials to meet in public but does not give people a right to be heard on issues at those meetings.

The bill allows officials to set reasonable time limits on speakers. Government bodies also can limit comment to representatives of large groups at meetings.

The measure must still clear the House before Gov. Rick Scott can sign it into law.