It has been slow going in the Florida Senate for two issues that are top priorities for Gov. Jeb Bush: reviving a school voucher program and revising classroom-size requirements.

Both issues would be covered under separate constitutional amendments that lawmakers could send to voters. A voucher amendment had not been introduced as of Wednesday, 15 days into the 60-day session, and the class-size measure had yet to be scheduled for a committee hearing.

"The clock is ticking," said Senate Majority Leader Alex Villalobos, R-Miami. "Any bill that doesn't get heard soon is in deep trouble."

Proponents, however, say they're not worried.

"It's still early in the process," Bush spokeswoman Alia Faraj said. "Both the House and Senate are actively engaged in the process."

Vouchers let students go to private schools at taxpayer expense. Bush called for putting them into the Florida Constitution as a "fundamental right" after the state Supreme Court in January ruled his Opportunity Scholarship Program was unconstitutional.

About 700 students are in that program. The high court said it violates a constitutional provision requiring a uniform system of free public schools.

Two larger voucher programs for poor and disabled children, together enrolling about 30,000 students, were not affected, but Bush and other supporters fear they may be challenged next.

A proposed amendment (HJR 1573) in the House would allow the Legislature to set up voucher programs for virtually any reason.

Voters in 2002 approved an amendment that requires schools to reduce class sizes. Bush opposed it, arguing that it would cost too much, and now he wants to change it.

Proposed amendments have been introduced in both chambers to require that the limits be met on a districtwide average basis instead of in each school. That is expected to result in little or no change from present class sizes.

Faraj said the Republican governor continued to meet frequently with leaders in each chamber, both with GOP majorities, on both proposals.

The House, where Republicans have an 85-35 edge, appears solidly in line on both issues. The class size amendment has been approved by two House committees and is awaiting a final hearing before the Education Council. The voucher amendment has not yet been heard in a House committee.

Bush, however, doesn't always get his way in the Senate despite its 26-14 GOP advantage.

The requirement for a three-fifths majority in each chamber for an amendment to go on the ballot means 24 votes are needed in the Senate. Democrats are solidly against both proposals. Losing only two Republican senators would spell defeat.

A similar proposal last year got only 19 votes in the Senate, not even a simply majority. Villalobos was among Republicans who voted against it then and said he didn't see any reason yet to change his mind.

Class size amendments in both chambers (SJR 1150, HJR 447) include a provision that would require school districts to spend 65 percent of their budgets in the classroom. That's an idea opposed by Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach.

"Sixty-five percent has no definition and it has no accountability to it," Lynn said. "We need to have school districts make decisions, and I think they make good decisions."

She said she wants her committee to hear the proposal but Senate leaders have asked her to hold off.

"I think it relates a great deal to trying to get the language done," said Senate President Tom Lee, R-Valrico. "The policy's complex, but there are politics involved in constitutional amendments. They ultimately have to be voted on by the electorate and getting that policy right isn't easy."

Lee said he saw no reason why both amendments couldn't reach the Senate floor.

"The strategy, particularly on the opportunity scholarship issue," Lee said, "is evolving weekly."