There are 5 days until the Utah Democratic Party Caucus meetings, 7 days until the Utah Republican Party Caucus meetings, 110 days until the Utah Republican Presidential Caucuses, 244 days until the 2012 election and 325 days until the start of the 2013 legislative session.

The 2012 legislative session is now in the books.

Even though it was a boring session, lawmakers got a lot done [Utah Policy].

Lawmakers spent a good portion of time focusing on states rights in the face of the federal government [Tribune].

Gov. Gary Herbert says the session was marked by exceptional collaboration among lawmakers [Deseret News].

The state had a bit more money to spend because of an improving economy [Tribune]. 

The Senate approves drug testing for some welfare recipients. The bill now goes to the Governor's desk [Tribune].

Some are calling for the veto of a bill mandating the teaching of "abstinence only" sex education in Utah's schools, but Gov. Herbert says that will depend on whether the measure is good policy or not [Deseret News].

There were some changes made to liquor governance in the state, but nothing that will affect consumers [Tribune, Deseret News]. 

Dealing with transportation funding this year was tricky because some lawmakers had little appetite to bond for new projects [Utah Policy, Tribune].

Lawmakers strip out a provision that exempted legislators from "good landlord" programs mandated by many cities [Tribune].

The Utah Eagle Forum is against Utah's Common Core standards in education because they could possibly promote a hidden "gay agenda" in Utah schools [Tribune].