AUSTIN, Texas -- Following a contentious presidential election cycle, Texas lawmakers are heading into the 85th Legislative Session bound to be filled with some divisive battles of their own.

Over the past few months, Capital Tonight has reported on the priorities House Speaker Joe Straus has laid out for state representatives.

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  • 85th Legislative Session lasts for 140 days
  • May 29, 2017 is Sine Die -- Last day of Legislative Session
  • June 18, 2017 -- Last day Gov. Greg Abbott can sign or veto bills passed during session

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Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's hefty legislative to-do list includes a whopping 30 items.

MORE | Texas Legislators Receive Budget Outlook, Plus 1-on-1 with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick

These leaders of the state's decision making body have seemingly been at odds over what issues they think should be front-and-center, stoking a growing divide between House and Senate lawmakers.

But politics aside, the amount of things to get done in the next 140 days is a Texas-sized task. 

MORE | Freshman Lawmakers Prepare for First Session in Texas Legislature

Lawmakers face reforming the state's broken foster care system, adequately funding public schools and a looming battle over a so-called "bathroom bill," filed in the name of protecting women's privacy.  

It's a lot to keep up with. So here's a list compiled by the Capital Tonight team of several of the top legislative issues we’ll be keeping an eye on:

Budget Woes:

State lawmakers begin the new legislative session with less money to spend thanks, in part, to lagging oil prices.

Top Republicans have vowed to cut taxes, but with fewer dollars to spend, that will be a tough fight ahead between the two chambers.

Due to state revenue lost from the slump in oil prices, lawmakers may be $5 billion short of the funds needed to maintain current services.

Budget cuts are already being talked about as lawmakers look to spend more money on fixing the state's troubled foster care system, among other top priority issues.   

School Finance vs. School Choice:

With fewer dollars to spend, public education advocates fear a school finance fix may not be on the immediate horizon.

Speaker Joe Straus has said reforming the system is a priority in the House.

It comes after the Texas Supreme Court ruled the system constitutional, but barely. But on the Senate side, so-called "school choice" is a top priority of Patrick.

The push to bring private school choice programs to Texas has the attention of Gov. Greg Abbott.

Abbott has said both school choice and public school finance reform can be done during the 140 days lawmakers meet. 

Border Security: 

Securing the border is a top priority for some Texas lawmakers, but the high cost of state-sponsored security and questionable results have some wondering if the money is better spent elsewhere. 

In 2015, the state dedicated more than $800 million to fund a surge of state troopers to combat an influx of migrants.

The surge came amid accusations from state leaders that the federal government wasn't doing enough to secure the border.

But President-elect Trump is promising to crack down on illegal immigration, so many state leaders are waiting to see if increasing the Department of Public Safety's border security budget to nearly a billion dollars will really be necessary.    

CPS Reform: 

After Child Protective Services was deemed to be a broken agency, many lawmakers are vowing to do something to help. 

CPS is charged with the task of caring for the state's abused and neglected kids, but after reports surfaced that children were sleeping in agency offices and endangered kids weren't being seen, lawmakers, advocates and families made it clear that CPS was failing.

While most Texas leaders agree that helping Texas' most vulnerable children is a worthwhile cause, finding the resources to overhaul the agency could be a stumbling block.  

Brewing Bathroom Battle:

Lt. Gov. Patrick has unveiled the bill calling it the "privacy protection act." And while it is more limited than similar efforts in North Carolina, the "bathroom bill" is expected to be one of the most contentious of the session.

It would limit the restrooms transgender people can use.

The Texas business community has come out in opposition citing economic concerns. Meanwhile, LGBTQ groups say it's discriminatory.

Here are some other issues to watch:

  • Ethics reform
  • Gov. Abbott's call for a Convention of States 
  • Women's Health Tax Cuts
  • Gun Rights

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We want to know, what issues are most important to you when it comes to this legislative session? Join the discussion on Facebook & Twitter.

Continuing Coverage: