"We sent letters to all school principals explaining that we really can't accommodate large groups of students like we did before," said Curtis. Two House galleries will hold around 35 people each; the Senate gallery is even smaller.

Valentine says the almost-daily special information exhibits that were set up in the old Capitol rotunda to educate legislators and the public about a host of issues won't fit in the new building. "We're working to have some presentations being made at lunch time in empty hearing rooms, but those will have to be scaled back, too."

Curtis promises that chairs will be set up in hallways so lobbyists and the public can rest while legislators toil on chamber floors. "We'll have folding chairs if I have to set them up myself," Curtis said.

Three hearing rooms will have TVs, allowing bystanders to watch floor action in the House and Senate. In addition, legislative staffers have expanded the old Internet "streaming" capabilities, so more people can watch floor action from their personal computers, if they have a high-speed connection.

"For Democrats, it's all about education," said House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake. Republicans hold two-thirds majorities in both bodies, so the minority Democrats have little party power, can't stop debates or kill constitutional amendments.

"We need to make a greater investment in public and higher education," said Becker. The students and teachers deserve it, he added. "And we need to address the neediest among us, the poor and disabled."

Like all sessions, there are some "sleeper" issues that could blow up on legislators, warns Curtis.

"We have huge, complicated bills on telecommunication regulation and power facilities siting" — perhaps not that interesting to citizens until a public battle breaks out, he said.

"It's great to have some money" in the new budget, said Valentine, who has served in the Legislature since 1988.

"But more revenues is good and bad. Good because we can make up some lost ground, especially in employee pay. Bad because everyone is clamoring for it, and it's rough waters when you have some (more money) and there are all these needs," the new Senate president said.

Here are some of the issues lawmakers will discuss, and perhaps act on, in the following areas:

Public education

The chief battle will be over money.

School bosses want tens of millions of dollars to help kids achieve higher academic standards, add to the per-student funding formula and keep up with basic needs.

Others want vouchers and tax credits for parents sending kids to private schools. And those issues are expected to be the most controversial.