JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A bill to change how Missouri colleges and universities handle complaints of sexual assault and harassment hit a roadblock in the state Senate Wednesday, raising questions about its chances of passing this year.

At issue is how schools handle alleged violations of Title IX, a federal law that bans sex-based discrimination in education. Backers of the legislation said procedural changes are needed to ensure those accused of rape have a fair shot at defending themselves in the face of possible suspension or expulsion.

But universities and victim advocates pushed back against the proposals, and Democratic St. Louis Sen. Jamilah Nasheed said proposed changes would have a “chilling effect on victims.”

A roughly six-hour debate on the measure that spanned Tuesday night into Wednesday morning ended without any action.