The Texas House of Representatives late Thursday advanced an election reform bill that’s widely opposed by Democrats. The state’s lower chamber voted 79-37 to advance Senate Bill 1, which the state Senate passed earlier this month. The state House has a final vote scheduled Friday. After the expected passage, the amended legislation will go back to the state Senate. Republicans control both legislative chambers in Texas, and also hold the governor’s mansion. Gov. Greg Abbott has expressed support for the bill. Lawmakers spent hours debating amendments, diving into how the proposed alterations would affect existing law. State Reps. Andrew Murr and Rafael Anchía took about 10 minutes to debate an amendment Murr authored that would emphasize that poll watchers couldn’t be with a voter when that person is voting. The amendment was ultimately rejected, as were most that were proposed. Murr, a Republican, opened the roughly 12 hours of debate …