Highlights of Thursday’s activities at the Kansas Legislature:

¢ Senators gave first-round approval to a proposal phasing out property taxes on business machinery and tied it to one expanding a corporate income tax credit. Final action is set for Friday.

¢ Negotiators continued to toil in their search for a compromise school finance package that will satisfy a Kansas Supreme Court order and expedite the end of the 2006 session.

¢ House and Senate negotiators met to work out a compromise on a bundled bill that includes Jessica’s Law and authorizes private prisons. Talks are to continue.

¢ Sen. Tim Huelskamp, who demanded Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ office turn over records from any communications with the Supreme Court on school finance issues, said he would settle for sworn statements from her and her staff.

Also:

¢ The House sent the governor a compromise bill prohibiting anyone under age 15 from getting married in Kansas. The vote was 119-0.

¢ The House sent the governor a compromise bill raising the hourly rate for lawyers representing indigent defendants from $50 to $80. The vote was 74-47.

Clock is ticking:

Thursday was the 87th day of the session, out of 90 scheduled.