Indiana lawmakers reach tentative budget deal DEANNA MARTIN

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma says legislative leaders have reached a tentative budget deal.

Bosma declined to release specifics but said House and Senate budget negotiators have worked out differences on major issues. Budget negotiators haven't signed off on the proposal yet, however, and lawmakers planned a budget committee meeting later Thursday to outline details of the $28 billion plan.

Republican House Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Jeff Espich says the budget will give schools slight funding increases and leave the state with more than $1 billion in reserves.

Lawmakers said they were working on a hybrid plan to merge House and Senate plans on what to do with any extra state money. The House wanted a taxpayer refund, while the Senate wanted to pay down unfunded pension liabilities.