South Carolina senators approved legislation to keep state government running if legislators can't agree on a budget before the fiscal year starts.

The Senate approved the continuing resolution 40-0 Tuesday without debate.

Senate President Pro Tem Hugh Leatherman says it's "simply to have a backstop" and he doesn't expect it to be necessary.

Before the regular session ended May 11, legislators created a three-day special session starting Tuesday.

Without a budget to vote on, a mostly empty House met for less than 15 minutes. Speaker Jay Lucas recommended representatives not return until there's agreement.

A legislative panel failed to reach a compromise last week between the chamber's $8 billion proposals. It met briefly in public Tuesday afternoon.

The fiscal year's July 1 start is still more than five weeks away.