UPDATE: The House of Representatives amended this bill during the Committee of the Whole April 14. Check back for updates.

Illegal immigration will be in the spotlight today when lawmakers in the House of Representatives will debate a measure that would end so-called "sanctuary policies" some cities have adopted.

If the bill passes, cities and counties would be prohibited from adopting ordinances or enacting policies limiting or prohibiting the enforcement of federal immigration laws. Police departments in some cities have been criticized in recent years for not routinely checking the immigration status of suspects they detain.

A similar measure was debated last year on the House floor but never was put to a vote. That legislation would have allowed voters last fall to decide whether the sanctuary policies should be allowed.

And another effort to put the issue on the ballot last year failed, too. Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Don Goldwater and then-Rep. Russell Pearce led an effort to gather enough signatures to place a proposition on the ballot, but were unable to muster enough support.