With legislative leaders unable to agree on rules changes affecting the flow of bills, Massachusetts Senate leaders this week loaded up their fiscal 2016 state budget bill with legislative directives, adding to the usual high stakes nature of secret conference committee budget talks that will run deep into June, at least. The Senate voted unanimously in the wee hours Thursday to pass a $38.1 billion spending bill and while the bottom line on that plan is in line with the House budget passed in late April, the six-member conference committee to be helmed by Rep. Brian Dempsey and Sen. Karen Spilka will have to settle scores of differences, including major tax policy changes.

Senators added a tax on candy-flavored cigars Thursday night to budget tax policy riders that already included an income tax freeze, expansion of the earned income tax credit and an increase in personal tax exemptions. Adding to House-Senate clashes that have ramped up this year, the House on Friday formally asked the state Supreme Judicial Court for its opinion on the constitutionality of the Senate tax policy riders, which House leaders say are not permissible. The court set a deadline of Friday, June 5 for briefs to be filed.

For Henry Epp’s conversation with Matt Murphy about the week ahead on Beacon Hill, click the audio player above.