A $50 million relief package to deal with the unfolding coronavirus pandemic stalled Thursday night in a dramatic moment of political wrangling at the state Capitol.

The Senate passed a bipartisan relief package Thursday night in what seemed to be a breakthrough in efforts to approve a spending plan and adjourn their annual session in light of a public health emergency.

But while both the Senate and House of Representatives proceeded to pass basic, so-called "skinny" budget plans that would ensure the state government continues to operate into the new fiscal year that starts in July, the House stopped work for the night without taking up the emergency funding. Both chambers will reconvene Monday.

Asked if he could get the support needed to pass the Senate's $50 million coronavirus relief package, House Speaker Rusty Bowers bluntly told reporters: "I don't think so now."

In the Senate, the measure won bipartisan support, passing 27-3.

Gov. Doug Ducey's administration could use the $50 million to provide housing assistance, aid small businesses with fewer than 50 employees and support the operations of food banks as well as organizations serving people experiencing homelessness.

The aid package also calls on cities and towns to review policies on evictions and foreclosures during the current health emergency to allow families to remain in their homes.

Many Democrats in the House said the plan did not go far enough and spent the day arguing for bigger proposals, such as additional funding for housing, food banks and small businesses as well as changes in policy on unemployment benefits and food stamps. Some Democrats also argued the Senate plan left too much discretion with the governor to spend the emergency funds.

"It wasn't enough but we would have voted for it because we want a safety net. Some of us would have voted for it," said House Minority Leader Charlene Fernandez, D-Yuma, after the House adjourned.

Senate Minority Leader David Bradley, D-Tucson, said the plan was not perfect but would reinforce a safety net at a time when it is needed.

Bowers, however, argued the Senate plan did not provide enough flexibility to address a fast-changing problem.

"We have to have flexibility — not the needs of a particular population of folks, the needs of the state — and we have to have maximum flexibility," he said.

Legislature moved quickly before stalling

Legislative leaders spent the week moving toward a break to — or even end of — the annual session. While the session can drag on into May or June, public health officials have called for canceling large events. Lawmakers have raised concerns about requiring their staff to show up at the Capitol and some said they would no longer attend proceedings due to health concerns.

Legislatures in at least 19 states already have adjourned due to the new coronavirus.

Some questioned the need to adjourn quickly, given that lawmakers have until the end of June to pass a budget and the state's revenue picture is virtually guaranteed to change as businesses lay off employees and the crucial tourism industry sees events and conferences canceled.

It was only Thursday afternoon that Senate President Karen Fann, R-Prescott, appeared to have forged an agreement with Democrats to pass a budget and a relief package.

While lawmakers emphasized they do not know the size of the economic impact of this pandemic, the prospect of financial disaster loomed over the proceedings Thursday.

The pared down spending plan shelves for now any plans for major tax cuts.

Lawmakers also had talked about fully restoring a type of funding for schools — district additional assistance — that previously was cut. Instead, they voted to restore only part of it, as previously planned.

Universities also raised concerns that a basic budget plan would amount to a cut and not make up for previous reductions in funding.

ASU President Michael Crow argued that would only worsen the economic impact of the coronavirus.

"Skinny budget at this moment of significant and probable social and economic stress is the rough equivalent of hoping beyond hope that we in Arizona are immune to national or global financial disruption. We are not," Crow said in an email received by some lawmakers. "In fact, we learned in the 2008 financial collapse that we are acutely vulnerable."

The budget included some basic measures, such as funding to fix utilities and locks in the state's prison system after broken locks and the conditions of facilities turned into a scandal for the state government last year.

Both chambers also passed emergency legislation to let students finish the school year from home if classes remain canceled. Last week, they approved $55 million for the public health response to the coronavirus.

Firefighter legislation put aside

Meanwhile, the rush to adjourn meant sidelining a long list of other legislation that lawmakers had been working on, for years in some cases.

Lawmakers still plan, or at least hope, to return to the Capitol before the year is over.

But some legislators tried to salvage their priorities rather than leave them to chance.

Sen. Heather Carter, R-Phoenix, put forward a multimillion dollar amendment to help firefighters with workers compensation claims stemming from cancer.

The Senate quickly bypassed the amendments without discussion, however.

"A lot of people gave up a lot that they had worked hard on," Fann told members.

But, she added: "We are going to show leadership."

Contact Andrew Oxford at andrew.oxford@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter at @andrewboxford.