Legislators faced a late night Thursday before taking final votes on a state budget and adjourning.

The House and Senate convened late in the afternoon and spent more than two hours debating transportation legislation that will await a special session.

The two-year budget, which is the General Assembly's foremost duty, was nowhere near a vote by 7 p.m.

Lawmakers returned to Richmond five days after their Saturday adjournment deadline for a final vote on the $77 billion two-year spending plan for state government.

But floor speeches about roads and more debate over judicial appointments threatened to push Thursday's session into Friday's wee hours.

After the regular session's final adjournment, lawmakers planned to immediately convene in a special session specifically to consider bonds for higher education, parks and mental health facilities.