BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts lawmakers have approved a bill that would no longer require food store owners to place individual price stickers on each item for sale in their shops.

Under the law, owners would instead be allowed to place price scanners throughout their stores. Customers could use the scanners to determine the cost of an item.

Store owners say it will save them the expense of having to put stickers on everything in their shops.

Consumer advocates oppose the measure.

They say similar scanners in other stores have been unreliable, forcing consumers to play "guess the price" before heading to the checkout line.

The Senate approved the bill Monday. The House has previously backed it.

Gov. Deval Patrick said he's waiting to see the final version of the bill before deciding whether to sign it.