BOISE - A House panel has approved a bill requiring school board candidates in roughly half of Idaho's school districts to reveal money given to their campaigns.

The House Education Committee endorsed the proposal Thursday, which applies to candidates running for school boards in districts with more than 500 students.

Sen. Mary Souza, R-Coeur d'Alene, who sponsored the plan, said disclosure is important because of school districts' power to enter contracts with taxpayer dollars.

Souza said the committee had several questions about the bill.

"They asked many questions but offered great support," she said in an email Thursday afternoon. "The Idaho School Board Association stood up to support the bill."

The original bill would have required disclosure from all school districts. But it met resistance on the Senate from lawmakers saying it would increase the burden on trustees in small rural districts.

"Now that it has been amended by removing the emergency clause and exempting districts with less than 500 students, the bill passed by unanimous vote," she said. "I'm very hopeful it will succeed on the floor of the House as well."

The Senate passed the bill 24-11.

Nearly 90 of the state's 166 school districts have fewer than 500 students.