SALT LAKE CITY -- Lawmakers expect the 2011 Utah legislative session to be filled with debates about immigration, the state's budget and education.
"Immigration is a major issue and will consume a majority of our time," said Majority Assistant Whip Rep. Ronda Rudd Menlove, R-Garland.
The reason is the national spotlight the issue received after Arizona enacted its law in April 2010, she said.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, said he hopes lawmakers will quickly find a solution to the immigration issue because they need to focus on the state's budget.
"But that is going to be easier said than done right now," Jenkins said. "Everyone has an opinion."
Jenkins said last time he checked with the legislative office, there were at least 16 immigration bills that could come before legislators this session.
Jenkins said he wants to focus more on the state budget, because even though the state has $300 million additional funds this year versus last year, some areas will still need to be cut.
Menlove said state agencies are being asked to cut 7 to 10 percent of their budgets.
Rep. Ryan Wilcox, R-Ogden, said the cuts need to be made, "but we want to do it in such a way (that) we don't sacrifice services and things we need."
Wilcox said he and others also are going to see if funds can be made available to build a new juvenile 2nd District courthouse in Ogden.
Wilcox said he recently toured the juvenile courthouse on 26th Street in Ogden and was appalled.
"It's a safety issue for our judges," Wilcox said. "It's never a good idea to walk inmates, no matter how old they are, past the judge's chambers to their holding cells."
Wilcox said the courthouse is also too small and a poor design for the cases now being handled.
Many times, the juvenile court has to rent space from 2nd District Court for hearings, Wilcox said.
Wilcox and others are also hoping to see Weber State University get funds to construct another building on its Davis campus.
Sen. Jerry Stevenson, R-Layton, said the Davis campus is serving more students per square foot than any other university in the state. Part of the reason is the engineering program that was added to its curriculum.
Jenkins said if funding is available, and if it is Weber State's turn to have the funds, it would be good to erect another building.
"We have to do what is fair," he said. "If the money is out there and it's our turn, then fine. But we have to wait our turn."
Stevenson said he knows funding for public and higher education will be a hot topic during the session. Education is in need of more funding, but lawmakers are not sure if they will be able to find it.
Tax increases will not be a topic of discussion, local lawmakers said.
"There's no traction in tax increases," said Sen. Stuart Adams, R-Layton.
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