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JEFFERSON CITY — A highly contentious meeting of the House Higher Education Committee ended Tuesday with a 10-1 vote to send to the full House a bill dropping the regional designation from Southwest Missouri State University’s name.

The bill is now two votes away from the desk of Gov. Matt Blunt, who is eager to sign it into law.

Harg-area residents decided Tuesday night to petition against Billy Sapp’s latest 169-acre voluntary annexation proposal.

Members of the Harg Area Residents for Responsible Growth said at a meeting that Sapp’s scaled-down proposal is nothing but a steppingstone to accomplish his initial plan.