A state House committee has endorsed a package of bills to close about a quarter of the state's $2 billion midyear budget shortfall. Consideration of the package by the full House also is expected Thursday, as is formal voting by the Senate.

The Senate on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to the three budget bills that include $292 million in spending cuts for K-12 schools' equipment purchases and Department of Economic Security social services. Other budget changes in the bills take the total impact of the package to an estimated $462 million.

The special session began Tuesday.