The state House of Delegates and Senate battled each other's competing budgets this week as committees on both sides also took final action on members' bills.

The Senate courts of justice committee sent a bill to the full Senate that would increase the penalties for those under 21 caught drinking and driving. Though the measure was rejected by the committee last week, it was resurrected and approved late Thursday night.

The bill would increase the license suspension from six months to a year and make the crime a misdemeanor. It was approved by the House of Delegates earlier this month on a 96-3 vote.

Recent studies by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles have shown that alcohol-related teen traffic deaths went up 46 percent in 2006.

The same committee again delayed a vote on a bill that would require people who get a drunken driving conviction for the first time to get ignition interlock on their car. The device is similar to a breathalyzer and doesn't allow a driver to start the car until they pass the test. Currently, the device is only required for a person's second or subsequent DUI convictions.

The courts committee also essentially killed a bill by that would block the public from having access to the state's list of people with concealed weapon permits. The committee voted to continue the measure to next year's session.

The debate started last summer when The Roanoke Times published the names and addresses of everyone in the state who had a concealed weapon permit, which set off a firestorm of criticism about people's right to know since the list included many names that should not have been released.

Also this week, the House finance committee defeated a proposed a five-cent per gallon gas tax over five years that was approved in the Senate. The bill was intended to generate money to pay for the state's road system.

Coming next week, both sides will focus on approving a budget, and a House committee is scheduled to vote Monday on a key payday lending bill after twice delaying action so that a compromise can be worked out among lawmakers.