JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri Republicans relied on a rarely used procedural move Wednesday night to end a Democratic filibuster of legislation that would triple the current 24-hour waiting period for abortions.

Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville, moved to previous question on the measure vetoed by Gov. Jay Nixon after it was passed earlier in the night with support from 117 lawmakers in the House.

Senate Majority Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin, had threatened to use the move on the same bill earlier in the year, but the two parties struck a deal to avoid the move. Richard huddled with Senate President Tom Dempsey and other Republican leadership earlier in the evening to consult with Senate Secretary Terry Speiler on how to move forward.

Wednesday night’s move marked a big moment in the upper chamber: It was first time the majority party had forced an end to debate since 2007. That year, the procedural move was deployed on another anti-abortion bill.

With the Senate’s 23-7 vote, the measure will soon become law, placing Missouri among two other states with 72-hour waiting periods for abortion.

“I want to thank my colleagues in both the Senate and the House from both sides of the aisle for voting in support of life today,” Sater said in a statement. “In Missouri, we believe life is worth protecting and today’s vote sends a clear message that Missouri intends to defend those who cannot defend themselves.”