— The longest state budget impasse in at least 18 years could be coming to an end next week.

Senate leaders have added House Bill 966, the vetoed state budget, to their calendar for Monday's 7 p.m. voting session.

Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, vetoed the Republican-penned budget in June.

Because Republicans no longer hold a super-majority in either chamber, overriding Cooper's veto has been an uphill battle.

After months of trying to bargain with Democratic members, the state House overrode the veto without Democratic help on Sept. 11 in an early-morning session.

Democrats, who were largely absent for the vote, protested that they were told no votes would be taken at that session. Republicans said that was not the case.

Still, after the political firestorm resulting from the House vote, Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger announced his chamber would follow its rules for a veto override, requiring that all senators receive notice about it at least 24 hours in advance.

In the meantime, legislative leaders have been rolling out "mini-budgets" for specific spending areas.

Senate Republicans hold 29 seats to Democrats' 21. The Democrats have pledged to uphold Cooper's veto.

An override requires a vote of three-fifths of all members "present and voting." So, 30 votes would be needed if all 50 senators vote, meaning Republicans would need to persuade one Democrat to vote with them.

However, if two Democrats are absent or choose not to vote – known as "taking a walk" – the override could be accomplished with no Democratic help because if only 48 senators vote, only 29 votes would be needed to reach the three-fifths mark.

Berger, R-Rockingham, has apparently contemplated that possibility. His office sent out a release about the override, saying that if the vote isn't taken Monday, the override will be rescheduled and advance notice will again be given.

"Every member of the Senate has a choice to make: To be in the chamber and vote, or not," the press release concludes.