Tuesday is "crossover day" at the Capitol, the official do-or-die day on which bills must be approved in their chamber of the Legislature to have a fighting chance at becoming law.

The Senate and House, which convene at 10 a.m., both have more than 30 bills on the agenda — from foreclosure reform to billboard regulations — and probably will debate into the night.

The two chambers already have passed what they call key legislation: the statewide water plan, tax breaks for timber companies, bills for charter schools and legislation to give the General Assembly more oversight of the state lottery corporation.

The Senate overwhelmingly approved two measures that would cap assessments of the value of homes, so that property taxes could not rise.

But some of the most sweeping legislation either has failed or has been held up in committee.

The House and Senate have not agreed on mid-year revisions to the budget for the fiscal year that runs through June 30, and continue to bicker over funding for public education and public defenders.

The proposal from House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) to wipe out property taxes and curb the revenue growth of local governments died on the House floor, but probably will be revisited.

A House measure that proposed a constitutional amendment to make English the state's official language was voted down, but a Senate bill that essentially would do the same will be on the floor of that chamber today. That law prohibits a state agency from "requiring an employee to speak or learn any language" to get promoted or to keep a job.

A BUSY AGENDA,/b>