(RALEIGH) -- Republican state lawmakers are moving to block a mandate brought on by federal health care reform. A House judiciary committee approved a bill that would exempt the state from a federal requirement to buy health insurance.

Bill co-sponsor and House Majority Leader Paul Stam said the bill would stop a federal provision goes too far.  "This is designed to protect the vast majority of our citizens from what we believe to be an unjustified incursion of government power," said Stam.

Democratic Rep. Grier Martin said GOP leaders jammed the legislation through without adequate consideration. "You all have got the votes to get this passed.  Your car is going to reach its destination.  There's no need to drive a 100 miles an hour there to get there.  You've got the time to get there and get there safely," said Martin.

The measure would also direct Attorney General Roy Cooper to add North Carolina to the list of 26 other states challenging the Patient Care and Affordable Care Act in court.  "A state law that authorizes North Carolina citizens to violate federal law could be found to be unconstitutional," said Cooper in a statement released on Thursday.