Ten bills make up more than two-thirds of proposed spending so far.

The biggest requests of the 137 special appropriations bills filed so far this year all seek money for statewide programs.

$173 million: Give each victim of the state's sterilization program $50,000. 

$113.5 million: Keep the State Health Plan for state government workers, teachers and retirees afloat.

$93.9 million: Give teachers across-the-board pay raises by eliminating bonuses for end-of-the-year testing.

$93.9 million: Give teachers across-the-board pay raises by limiting bonuses for end-of-the-year testing.

$50 million: Help build low-income housing through a program that offers tax credits and other incentives. (Companion)

$50 million: Provide grants for water and sewer treatment projects.

$44 million: Pay teacher bonuses based on end-of-the-year testing that were earned but not given in the 2007-08 school year. (Companion)

$36.6 million: Fund public health initiatives on childhood obesity, HIV in prison inmates, school nurses, preterm births, flu vaccines, sexually transmitted diseases, strokes, diabetes and smoking cessation.

The proposals total $561 million, not counting the two companion bills and the second bill on teacher salaries. That's 71 percent of the $785.6 million requested so far.

State legislators have now asked for $778.7 million.

A total of 130 bills filed since the start of the session have requested special appropriations for various state programs and causes.

That's about 25 percent of the likely $3 billion budget shortfall.

Thirty-one of the bills are companions filed in the other chamber, and three other bills are similar. Bills filed in both chambers total $162.3 million.

The 68 House spending bills total $523.8 million; 61 Senate spending bills, $531.8 million.

The largest spending bill to date is Sen. Larry Shaw's request for $173 million to compensate victims of the state's sterilization program, which is unlikely to pass. The second largest is Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand's request for $113.5 million to shore up the State Health Plan, which is likely to pass.

Other large requests are for $93 million to supplement teacher salaries, $50 million for wastewater treatment projects, $50 million for low-income housing, $44 million to pay teacher bonuses, and $36 million for public health programs.

The smallest request is for $10,000 to upgrade a day care.

Only 11 spending bills totaling $70.8 million have a Republican among their primary sponsors.

The bills also request $434.8 million in the 2010-'11 budget.

State legislators have already asked for $73.8 million.

Seven bills filed on the first two days of the session include spending requests for specific programs, even though the state could be facing a $2 billion shortfall.

The largest request so far is for $44 million to give public school teachers bonuses earned in 2007-08 that were not given out. The smallest is for $25,000 for the Southern Appalachian Historical Association to present the outdoor drama "Horn in the West."

Other spending bills would compensate victims of a state sterilization program, develop a database of those victims, open two family assistance centers for the National Guard, hire social workers for the developmentally disabled, and train teachers to work with preschoolers with cochlear implants.

These kinds of spending bills are typical for the legislature, and many never make it out of committee. In a tight budget year, they will have even less of a chance, however.

Dome will be tracking spending bills over the next few weeks in the spreadsheet below.

Several more bills were filed in the state Senate today:

S.B. 15: Session Limits, Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand

S.B. 16: DPI / Curriculum on 1898 Wilmington Race Riots, Sen. Julia Boseman

S.B. 17: Pay Teachers the ABC Bonuses They Earned, Sen. Steve Goss

S.B. 18: Amend Cemetery Act, Goss

S.B. 19: Use of Additional Technology Prohibited, Goss

S.B. 20: Voter-Owned Election for Treasurer, Sen. Doug Berger