CHARLESTON -- Huntington and other cities across the state would no longer be stuck with police and firefighter pension funds that threaten to bankrupt them under legislation that passed the state Senate Wednesday.

The bill was one of nine pieces of legislation moving out of the chamber during the second day of the Legislature’s fourth special legislative session of the year. It now heads to the state House of Delegates, which is considering similar legislation.

Officials in Huntington and other cities are seeking the authority to end what has turned into expensive pension programs for retired police and firefighters. Huntington in particular is looking at spending millions of additional dollars in coming years – money city officials said they don’t have.

Two bills before the House and Senate would allow cities to enroll new hires in newer, less expensive pension programs. They also give cities 40 years to pay off their unfunded liability and any interest that has accumulated on that liability.

Gov. Joe Manchin called lawmakers into special session Tuesday to take up the pension bill as well as roughly 10 other business items.

Another bill passing the Senate Wednesday allows counties to issue recovery zone bonds authorized under the federal economic stimulus act. Some counties have been sitting on millions of dollars for economic development for months while they’ve waited for the Legislature to give them bonding authority.

Other legislation passed include bills establishing an absentee voting program for uniform services members, continuing a free of the state’s motor fuel tax and making a handful of special appropriations. The Senate also passed a resolution recognizing Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., as the longest-serving member of Congress.

The House of Delegates held committee hearings throughout the day on the various proposals, but it held off any floor votes until Thursday.