Senate Democrats have passed a bill extending a payroll tax by removing a requirement that mandates a two-thirds vote to pass.
The measure has shaped up to be one of the largest political fights in the last day of the 2019 legislative session. Republicans issued strong objections to extending the payroll tax, which Democrats say will put $72 million toward teacher pay raises and an extra $16.7 million to school safety efforts.
Republicans say they agree with supporting education, but argued the state has a surplus of money to fund the efforts.
The Senate Democrats passed the measure with a simple majority vote and did not sway any Republicans.