"It should pass," he told reporters in his office. "It can be stopped by the minority if they really want to stop it, but in terms of people who have said they support this legislation, there are over 60 votes."

The measure would transfer many large class-action lawsuits from state courts to federal courts, where experts say they have less chance of success. A similar measure has passed the House of Representatives.

Supporters say the legislation will help stop plaintiffs shopping around the country for a sympathetic state courtroom forum. But critics say it will reduce the opportunities for consumer and civil rights lawsuits that are often filed in state courts.

Frist tried to bring the legislation to the Senate floor last autumn, but failed by one vote to gather the 60 votes needed to overcome a procedural objection to debating it.

Since then, compromises forged over the bill have won it the support of a total of 62 senators -- 50 Republicans, 11 Democrats and one independent.

Frist said he would plead with colleagues not to offer unrelated amendments, but refused to say whether he would take procedural action to limit amendments.

He said he had not studied a possible amendment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Co-sponsors Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican, and Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Connecticut Democrat, have said they are looking for legislation to attach the proposal to as an amendment.