LANSING, MI -- The Michigan Senate approved more than a dozen bills on Thursday, making the final day before deer hunting season look a lot like a lame duck.

Only two of the bills faced significant opposition, but several -- including proposals to allow autonomous vehicles and short-barreled shotguns -- would make significant changes to state law.

Here's a look at some of the measures approved by the Michigan Senate, which will not meet again until early December.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE FIGHT: Just hours after Republican Secretary of State Ruth Johnson proposed a rule that would require campaign finance reporting for "issue ads," the GOP-led Senate moved to block her proposal in a 20-18 vote. Senate Bill 661, now headed to the House, also would double individual maximum donation limits.

SHORT-BARRELED SHOTGUNS: Senate Bill 610, sponsored by Republican state Sen. Mike Green of Mayville, would lift Michigan's ban on short-barreled shotguns and rifles. Purchasers would still have to meet federal requirements under the bill, approved in a 36-2 vote and now headed to the House.

LICENSE PLATE AGE LIMIT: Two weeks after defeating the measure, the Senate reconsidered and approved a bill that would not allow motorists to renew license plates that are 10 years or older. Instead, residents will have to buy a new one for $5. House Bill 4633, working its way to the governor's desk for signature, would also require the Secretary of State to study a potential move to digitally printed license plates.

AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES: Driverless cars could be coming soon to Michigan roads. The Senate unanimously approved a bill by Sen. Mike Kowall, R-White Lake, that would allow vehicle manufacturers and suppliers to test autonomous vehicles on public roads. Senate Bill 663, and a companion bill shielding manufacturers from liability due to third-party modification, are heading to the House.

CAPITOL UPKEEP: Two of Michigan's veteran lawmakers moved to protect one of its older buildings. Legislation sponsored by Republican Sen. Roger Kahn of Saginaw Township and Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville of Monroe would establish the Michigan Capitol as a historic site and create a commission to oversee its upkeep. The Senate unanimously approved both bills but did not take up another for funding.

BARBER RULE TRIM: Senate Bill 612, approved in a 31-7 vote and now headed to the House, would reduce the number of training hours barbers must complete from 2,000 to 1,800 in order to earn a license. The bill is among several under consideration that would remove or amend licensing and regulatory restrictions on a slew of professional occupations.

The Michigan House is running through a slew of bills during a marathon session of its own on Thursday. Check MLive.com later for a round-up of what happened in the lower chamber. Lawmakers are off the next two weeks for deer-hunting season and Thanksgiving.

Jonathan Oosting is a Capitol reporter for MLive Media Group. Email him, find him on Google+ or follow him on Twitter.