Those were among the more than 200 bills and resolutions passed by the state Legislature during this year's session. They couldn't agree on a balanced budget, but reforming welfare, making life tougher for telemarketers and officially recognizing sobriety as a virtue all received approval.

The total is large for a legislative session, but no single bill is likely to have a dramatic effect on the day-to-day life of most Alaskans, said Rep. Jeannette James, a North Pole Republican.

"We've made a lot of reform packages," she said. "But to think of a single bill that by itself has a widespread public impact, I can't think of one."

Many of the bills still have to be approved by Gov. Tony Knowles before they become law, although only a handful of the more controversial proposals are typically vetoed during a session.

Among the high-profile bills passing the Legislature was a welfare reform package limiting benefits to five years, and only then if adult recipients work, volunteer or participate in job training. Another requires teachers to work for three years instead of two before being eligible for tenure and subjects them to regular performance reviews afterward, which some lawmakers said will cause turbulence among educators - if Knowles even signs it.

"It's a possibility that dollars spent on education are going to be spent on lawsuits instead of books and teachers," said Rep. Caren Robinson, a Juneau Democrat.

Another reform bill is a complex rewriting of campaign finance laws, based on an initiative placed by residents on the November ballot. But James said voters may be disappointed at the various attempts to limit the ways candidates can receive funds, because people with lots of money will still have an advantage over those who don't.

"If it works the way they want it to work, fine," she said. "If it only allows people with their own money to run, that's not fine."

Some of the most debated and publicized bills won't have much impact on most people: a ban on same-sex marriages and an easing of concealed handgun regulations - reducing permit fees and allowing carriers into bars, government buildings and airport loading areas - are two examples.

Insurance companies were the target of several bills, especially by those concerned about health care coverage. Allowing women to remain hospitalized at least 48 hours after giving birth and ensuring men can receive prostate cancer screenings as part of their health care coverage were among the bills passed, both of which largely involved Juneau lawmakers.

A sweeping reform of civil lawsuit laws is also ostensibly aimed at reducing insurance rates by lowering excessive judgments, although skeptics claim it will simply allow insurers to increase profits. The tort reform package - which could be among the bills Knowles vetoes - restricts the circumstances in which a person can file a lawsuit and the damages they can receive, and penalizes attorneys filing claims found to be frivolous.

Another bill with a similar theme prohibits people from suing private airports and shooting ranges for noise-related complaints, as long as the facility is in compliance with the regulations in effect when it was built.

The wheels of justice got a spin in several other bills, most notably from a new "three strikes" law imposing 40- to 99-year sentences for third-time violent felony offenders. Also approved by legislators were military-style boot camps for younger offenders convicted of non-violent crimes, if federal funding for the program can be found.

Recruiting gang members by force, threat or inducing them to commit a crime will become a felony if a Senate bill is signed by Knowles. Less serious, but perhaps of relief to more people, is a telemarketing bill making it a crime to call residents who have asked to be removed from marketing lists, use machines that automatically dial and play recorded messages, or provide false information about a political candidate.

Motorists will likely be able to buy $50 dog mushing license plates soon, and starting next year all plates will commemorate the centennial of the state's gold rush. Renewing license plates may get easier with the passage of a bill allowing motorists to renew then once every two years for $68, instead of $35 annually.

On the less appealing side, residents now face the loss of their driver's license if they don't show up for court on moving violations.

Finally, there's the little-known and essentially meaningless proclamations that make it through. One bill, for example, adds to the state's existing policy of favoring treatment instead of prosecution for alcoholics.

"It is the policy of the state to recognize, appreciate and reinforce the example set by its citizens who lead, believe in, and support a life of sobriety," the amended portion of the bill reads.

Such statements are non-binding, often "feel-good" statements or an attempt sway future legislators to a particular political slant. But Robinson said they aren't always worth devoting the Legislature's limited time to.

"I personally believe we spent too much time (there) because, frankly most resolutions aren't worth much more than the paper they are printed on," she said.