TRENTON — A bill that would create the authority to oversee the redevelopment of Fort Monmouth took a major step forward Thursday when it passed through its first state Senate committee on its way to a full Senate vote.

The Economic Growth Committee voted unanimously to pass the bill after a hearing lasting only minutes and during which no committee member asked questions.

The bill seeks to create the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority, a 13-member panel that would oversee the fort's $1 billion redevelopment plan. The authority would replace the existing authority, which finished its job when it created the redevelopment plan.

The bill will now move to the Budget Committee before a full vote of the Senate. No date was set Thursday.

State Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, the bill's primary sponsor, introduced a slew of amendments to the bill, many of which evolved from discussions with residents and leaders from the fort's host towns — Eatontown, Oceanport and Tinton Falls. The bill has garnered acceptance among leaders in Tinton Falls and Eatontown, but has riled some in Oceanport, which had passed a resolution opposing it.

"I think ultimately we have a solid public policy that provides real protection to the host municipalities while allowing for a region redevelopment effort," Beck said in an interview after the vote.

Sen. Joseph Kyrillos, also R-Monmouth, congratulated Beck and praised the bill.

"This bill is the essential next step to help redefine the economy of Monmouth County," said Kyrillos, a co-sponsor of the bill.

Even the bill's longtime detractors, among them Oceanport Councilman Joseph Irace, had guarded praise for the measure on Thursday.

"It's a better bill than it was when it was first presented in November of last year," Irace said. "The amendments do give us control over things like density."