ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota's Legislature has crossed the largest hurdle to finishing the state's budget.

Lawmakers met in a special session that stretched from Friday morning into Saturday as they raced to complete the budget before a July 1 deadline. A funding bill for environmental and agricultural programs kept a quick resolution out of reach.

Democrats who control the Senate moved to restore a pollution control agency oversight board and prevent other regulatory changes amid pressure from environmental groups. But House Republicans rejected those changes.

The Senate agreed to pass the budget without those changes early Saturday morning on a 38-29 vote.

The end of the back-of-forth puts in place one of the final remaining pieces of the state's $42 billion, two-year budget.

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