Session Extended for One Week

Today we learned the session has been extended for one week, through May 8, to deal with budget issues only. House Speaker Larry Cretul and Senate President Jeff Atwater announced earlier that the framework for the budget has been worked out, which means conference committees can begin meeting this afternoon, with discussions expected to continue through Friday. The schedule has budget chairs meeting through the weekend, with the budget printing on Monday and being submitted to legislators by Tuesday. After the required 72-hour cooling-off period, a final vote on an agreed-upon budget is expected by next Friday, May 8.