A bill that significantly alters voting rules in the state took one step closer to becoming law Wednesday, as the Florida Senate prepared legislation reducing early voting days, protecting against voter fraud and setting up a committee to determine the date for the 2012 presidential preference primary for a final vote.

School districts in 26 Florida counties are facing $31 million in fines for going over the class-size limits, but they won’t have to worry about similar fines in the future if legislation filed Thursday by Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, is passed.