Veterans groups call the spending bill signed into law Thursday the "most veteran-friendly budget" in state history.

The bill passed the House, 69 to 29, and the Senate 37 to 12.

The roads plan includes one of the biggest points of contention between the House and Senate: shifting sales tax on gasoline to pay for roads.

Legislative leadership will now take the road funding plan to their caucuses for approval.

A preference for one chamber's version of the roads bill has emerged as the public got what's likely its last chance this session to testify on the measure.

The Senate road funding proposal cut local dollars by more than two-thirds from the House version.

After a more than hour-long debate, the Senate advanced legislation that raises taxes and creates new fees to fund the state's road and bridge maintenance.

Senate lawmakers put their own stamp on this session's comprehensive road funding bill while keeping the measure's primary tax increase intact.

Members of the public - mostly lobbyists and trade organizations - testified before Senate lawmakers on the comprehensive road funding bill.

Nearly 90 percent of Indiana's roads are maintained by counties, cities and towns, yet those local units get less than half of the state's road funding dollars.