A bill aimed at speeding up the adoption process in Georgia is headed to the governor’s desk.

The State Senate voted 53-2 Monday to go along with the version of the bill passed unanimously by the House last week.

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle says in the end Senators agreed with House changes to allow private adoption attorneys to collect limited living expenses for the mother including rent, groceries and maternity clothes. But the Senate will create a study committee to make sure those costs stay in line.

“We can keep an eye on what goes on to ensure that we have a fair and just system that’s affordable to citizens,” he tells WSB’s Sandra Parrish.

The House last week went along with the Senate’s request to allow parents to give temporary custody to others without going through the Division of Family and Children Services. Instead, the guardian would register with the local probate court.

The House also went along with Senate changes to shorten the time allowed for a birth mother to change her mind about giving up her child for adoption, from 10 days to four.

House Speaker David Ralston calls the bill among the most important measures passed by the Legislature in recent history.

“I can think of nothing more important that we can do for the most vulnerable for our children in Georgia to finally pass this bill,” he says.

It’s been nearly 30 years since Georgia made an update to its adoption laws. The changes are expected to cut in half the current wait time to adopt a child of three years.

Ralston praised the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Bert Reeves (R-Marietta), who has worked three years to pass the measure.

“Every child in this state that is needing to be adopted is going to have a clearer pathway forward in that now,” says Reeves.

The bill now goes to Gov. Nathan Deal who is expected to sign it into law.