Legislative leaders have reached a bipartisan agreement that would restore K-12 funding and make other budget changes necessary to preserve the state's receipt of more than $2 billion in federal stimulus funding, The Arizona Republic has learned.

The deal, details of which are yet to be formally released, comes on the first day of a special session ordered last week by Gov. Jan Brewer.

Once the package is approved, which may come as early as today, rank-and-file lawmakers would be able to return to their home districts. The special session would remain open, though lawmakers would not receive per diem, and legislative leaders would continue to negotiate with Brewer regarding other budget issues, most notably her continued insistence on a temporary tax increase. More