An expansion of state-subsidized health insurance for uninsured adults is expected to be debated next week in the state House of Representatives, more than a year after Gov. Ed Rendell introduced a plan intended to accomplish that goal.

With a slim Democratic House majority, passage is far from certain. And the majority party’s lead legislator on health care issues acknowledges that an even tougher fight lies ahead in the Republican-controlled Senate for any measure that might win House approval.

Rep. Todd Eachus, chairman of the House Democratic Policy Committee, said Friday he was putting the finishing touches on legislation to provide low-cost health insurance to roughly 800,000 uninsured adults and small businesses.