The state legislature wrapped up its special session Friday at the state capitol. The members gave final approval to a few pieces of legislation including changes in the state gasoline tax.

The changes set the base gas tax at 20.5 cents. The official base has been 15.5 cents a gallon, but in 1993 lawmakers added a temporary 5-cent increase, which has never been removed. The bill makes it permanent.

The bill also sets limits on the variable component that impacts the gas tax each fall.

Supporters say the changes will help stabilize the state Road Fund and allow the state Division of Highways to better plan future projects because it will be easier to predict how much the gas tax will generate.

Those against the bill say the changes represented a tax increase and the 5-cent "temporary" tax was set to go off in 2013 if lawmakers would have rejected this week's bill.

The only bill not to pass during the four-day session was one dealing with the state's Other Post Employment Benefits debt, or OPEB. Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin has instead formed a committee of seven senators to study that $7 billion debt and come up with solutions to be discussed during next year's regular session.

The governor’s bill, rejected by the Senate, would have given county school boards a one-year reprieve in listing a portion of the debt on their books.