By JOHN MILBURN ~ Associated Press

TOPEKA (AP) – The Kansas Senate is debating its version of a budget bill that would spend more than $14 billion in each of the next two fiscal years.

The Senate was making minor changes Wednesday to its proposal, which would cover the years that start July 1, 2013, and July 1, 2014. The bill spends $6 billion each year in state general revenues plus $8 billion from other sources, including federal funds.

One of the Senate changes restored $5 million in funding for research institutes at the University of Kansas and Kansas State University. The money was taken from a trust fund established through oil and natural gas production.

The House passed its version of the budget earlier Wednesday. Differences between the two chambers will be worked out by negotiators.