BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's state senators are readying to debate a nearly $26 billion state operating budget for next year that looks strikingly different from the House version.

The Senate proposal up for debate Wednesday places a greater priority on health services for the elderly and disabled than the TOPS college tuition program.

Whatever the Senate approves will set up final negotiations between the two sides with only five days remaining in the legislative session. Disagreements center on how to close a $600 million gap for the year that begins July 1.

Gov. John Bel Edwards has called a special session, to start after the current session ends Monday, for lawmakers to consider taxes to lessen cuts. So, if lawmakers reach a budget deal this session, that won't necessarily be the final word.