97 lawmakers gave their initial backing to the government's proposal and five abstained. The bill will now be considered by the parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense.
The bill suggests extending the army's mandate amid the ongoing illegal migration crisis after the government's extreme situation commission suggested doing that last week.
The army's existing mandate to assist border guards and the Public Security Service expires on November 13, Vice Minister of National Defense Zilvinas Tomkus said.
In August, the Seimas adopted changes to the Statute on the Use of Military Force, giving troops an additional mandate. Just as border guards, troops can now detain persons or use special measures to stop illegal migration.
Almost 5,600 illegal migrants have been prevented from entering Lithuania since the country introduced the push-back policy in early August. And over 4,200 illegal migrants have entered Lithuania from Belarus since the start of this year.
Vilnius accuses the Minsk regime of orchestrating the unprecedented migration influx, calling it "hybrid aggression". An extreme situation is in place in Lithuania which is also building a physical barrier on its border with Belarus.