Assembly Dems have completed their first round of budget amendments and have gone back to closed caucus.

The caucus is breaking up amendments into a series of packages and voting on them via voice vote. Leaders said they'll do a show of hands if there's any question as to whether an amendment has the support of a majority of members, but so far that hasn't been a problem.

The first batch includes pulling items from the budget to alter the regulation of fireworks and to allow non-profit organizations to provide beer and wine for free at fundraising events without requiring them to obtain a municipal license.

Those two amendments were part of package four, which also includes altering a provision of the state smoking ban to include the sale of cigarettes in the list of products that count toward figuring out if a retail establishment counts as a "retail tobacco store." Rep. Colón, who sponsored the tobacco provision, joked it was the "sin" package.

Other changes include lifting the cap on how much a literacy program provider can receive under the state's program, adding a new check-off on state income tax forms for food pantries and clarifying the tax status of the Presbyterian Student Center Foundation in Madison.

The caucus is expected to remain closed for a couple of hours while members debate the next batch of amendments. We're awaiting an outline of the topics for the next packages and will get that up as soon as we can.

UPDATE: We now have the five packages scanned.

-- By JR Ross