The 268-page budget bill for the new year that begins July 1 increases state spending by hundreds of millions of dollars over the current year. But it is slightly less than what was proposed by Governor Bobby Jindal.

During the debate Thursday, House members turned away a $26 million proposal to restore education dollars cut by the House budget committee, but they added about $50 million in spending. The biggest addition was to give public school support workers a $1,000 bonus that will cost nearly $49 million.

The House also agreed to cut the salary Jindal wants for Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret. The governor wants Moret to receive $320,000 a year, but House members refused to raise it beyond the $245,755 paid to Moret's predecessor.