ST. PAUL (AP) - The Minnesota Senate has unanimously approved a bill that will let some Minnesota taxpayers claim recently enacted federal tax deductions on their state taxes too.

The Senate approved the bill unanimously Thursday. It's slightly different than a version passed earlier this week in the House, and must go back for a final vote of approval there.

The bill affects 250,000 tax returns. It includes teachers claiming deductions for education expense, homeowners taking itemized deductions for their mortgage insurance premiums and college students or parents using higher education tuition deductions.

Republicans in both chambers failed to include more deductions, as Democrats refused while citing the high cost.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved)

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