Meanwhile, Senate Finance subcommittees are closing out their work on agency budgets this week in preparation for the Senate to vote its version of the operating budget. The final spending plan is decided in a House-Senate Conference committee.

Other key financial bills to watch: Senate Bill 72, reestablishing a municipal revenue-sharing program, is being worked on in the House Finance Committee. The bill passed the Senate last year. A House/Senate Free Conference Committee continued its work March 3 on Senate Bill 125, legislation extending state aid to municipalities facing large financial liabilities due to public employee pension obligations. The state is assisting municipalities because the liabilities were creates by decisions of a state board that manages state, school district and municipal employee pensions.