Tomorrow is the 49th day of the 60-day legislative session.

With a second crossover deadline to meet last week, lawmakers held long sessions to narrow the list of bills they either wanted to send to the governor or bring to conference committee for a compromise.

Most of the priority bills from the beginning of the session are alive, although lawmakers may not reach agreement on many until the final decking deadline, April 25. For instance, lawmakers still have to figure out how much to offer in a tax rebate mandated by the state Constitution after two years of budget surpluses and how much money to dedicate to facility improvements at the University of Hawai'i campuses and the public schools.

There were few surprises as lawmakers voted on dozens of bills, although the House unexpectedly recommitted a bill that would have put a five-year moratorium on genetic modification of Hawaiian taro while allowing scientists and researchers to continue experiments with non-Hawaiian strains of the plant.

The taro bill went down without a public fuss, but House members had a lively debate over an ethics bill that had been amended at the last minute to bar lawmakers from entering into state contracts worth more than $10,000 a year. Big Island emergency room doctor Rep. Josh Green, who has a contract with Hawai'i Health Systems Corp., said the bill was targeted at him in retribution for backing medical malpractice tort reform.

Green threatened to file an ethics complaint over the provision, but has agreed to wait until he sees what form it takes after conference committee, if it makes it out at all.

Lawmakers are keeping alive the potential purchases of the Turtle Bay resort and the Galbraith Estate, as well as a plan to raise the mandatory retirement age for state judges and justices from 70 to 80.

The Senate approved potential loan guarantees to help stabilize interisland airlines in the wake of Aloha Airlines; abrupt end to its passenger service. The Senate also revived a measure to place a $25,000 cap on corporate contributions to political action committees and prevent corporations from giving donations directly to candidates.

The Senate approved a $10.7 billion budget, giving lawmakers a figure to work with as they decide how to distribute funding throughout the state. The figure is $32.4 million less than the budget approved by the governor, but more than what had been approved by the House.

In less weighty matters, the House approved a resolution that would make April 6 of every year Tartan Day, inspiring some lawmakers to mention their Scottish roots and Rep. Angus McKelvey said his happiness over the resolution's passage was like a "fine haggis," a traditional Scottish dish made with ingredients that include sheep innards, suet and oatmeal.

COMING UP:

Friday is the constitutional amendment deadline, including one amendment that would lower the qualifying age for lieutenant governor from 30 to 25.