With three days left in the 2005 Utah Legislature, lawmakers have:

• Agreed to spend billions of taxpayer dollars;

• Decided not to adopt a hate-crimes law;

• Opted not to tax the state's largest hospital chain;

• Banned disposal here of low-level B- and C-grade radioactive wastes;

• Decided to give many Utah businesses a tax break.

But while much has been done during the general session's past 40 days, including adopting huge budget bills, "We still have some major policy decisions to make" before the 104 part-time lawmakers adjourn at midnight Wednesday, said House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy.

For his part, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. — who was sworn into office just two weeks before the session began — is making "great progress" this session, said his chief of staff, Jason Chaffetz. "So far, so good. . . . At this point, we're in the good hands of the Legislature."

Huntsman will be in Washington, D.C., through Monday, where he is scheduled to meet with President Bush. Chaffetz had planned to make the trip but stayed behind to help keep the governor's agenda moving.

Chaffetz said he hopes Huntsman's absence so close to the end of the session won't create any difficulties.

"I talked with leadership in both houses," Chaffetz said. "They were very understanding."

As is customary, much of the budget debate was wrapped up Friday evening, although SB1 and HB301, which approve the spending of approximately $400 million in surplus revenue, still await final passage by legislators. Also, some bills with fiscal notes that senators and representatives prioritized Friday had not been officially passed, and at least one of those — making it a primary offense to not wear a seat belt — could face stiff opposition from House members.

As with everything else in the Legislature, nothing about the budget is finalized until Wednesday night, when the "Bill of Bills," which is the official balancing of the budget, is passed. The "Bill of Bills" includes any last-minute spending approvals that can range from a few thousand dollars for slightly expanded programs to millions of dollars for a new program such as the Drug Offenders Reform Act.

Among the dozens of bills still sitting on the House and Senate floor calendars are those that would:

• Reorganize several state departments and agencies as the new governor desires, including economic development and human resources.

• Give parents who send their children to private schools a state income tax credit, also on Huntsman's list. (It was voted down Friday but could still be reconsidered.)