Lobbyists and political committee will have to pay more for the privilege of doing business in California if a bill approved by the Assembly becomes law.

SB1001 would double the registration fees lobbyists pay to the Secretary of State's Office and require committees and candidates to pay fees, as well. The revenue would go to California's Cal-Access website, which tracks lobbying activity and campaign finance reports.

Democratic Sen. Leland Yee of San Francisco introduced the bill after the sometimes difficult-to-use website crashed in November.

Committees and lobbyists would pay $50 a year. The California Newspaper Publishers Association supports the bill, while the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association calls it a "punitive measure."

The bill passed 59-17 Tuesday, with some Republicans voting no, and returns to the Senate for concurrence.