The state budget is officially in secret conference talks, the House continues to mostly ignore the ambitious legislative agenda shipped over from the Senate, and the Senate, which faces pressure to produce a big energy bill and legislation regulating ride-hailing companies, plans on Thursday to take up bills affecting veterans’ benefits. The House on Wednesday plans to take up a bill modernizing municipal government operations.

Meantime, another big bill expected to reach Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk by the end of July is beginning to move. A new version of Baker’s nearly $1 billion job creation bill has been drafted by the Economic Development Committee, according to chairwoman Sen. Eileen Donoghue of Lowell. That bill could emerge early next week and the Education Committee by next Friday hopes to find common ground on an early education bill. Baker is closing in on his three nominees for upcoming Supreme Judicial Court vacancies. They will likely be introduced at a press conference, which could come next week.

Click the audio link above to hear New England Public Radio’s Henry Epp discuss what lawmakers will be focused on this week in Boston with State House News reporter Matt Murphy.