HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania state representatives are moving closer to a vote that would let the public decide whether to trim about a quarter of their own members.

The state House on Monday turned down a series of proposed changes to the constitutional amendment.

Amendments at this stage could prevent the constitutional referendum from being put before the state's voters this year.

A final vote in the House and passage by the Senate are still required.

The referendum would cut the size of the state House of Representatives from 203 to 151 members.

If it's approved, the smaller House will go into effect with the new districts drawn after the 2020 U.S. Census.

The smaller House isn't expected to be a major cost savings, but could make the institution operate more efficiently.