ST. PAUL (AP) - Gov. Mark Dayton has signed a new law aimed at speeding up environmental reviews and business permits.

The Democratic governor said Thursday that the bill will push the state to move "at the speed of commerce."

The Republican-controlled Legislature made the proposal a signature move to improve Minnesota's business climate.

Environmental advocates and some Democratic lawmakers had urged Dayton to veto the bill, saying it would weaken environmental protections and increase court costs for citizens. They also said a measure that would allow businesses to commission or write their own draft environmental reviews would create conflicts of interest.

Dayton has already enacted parts of the bill by executive order in January.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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