Top legislative issues we're watching.

• Author: Francom, Sarah Ryther
• Position: Editorial

With the 2012 legislative session underway, there are many issues that could potentially impact your business and Utah's overall economic environment. The editorial team at Utah Business will be paying close attention to the diverse issues that affect the states business community, including the issues listed below. Watch for updates on these and other legislative issues reported in our UB Daily and look for in-depth features about many of these topics in future Utah Business issues.

USTAR: The Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative (USTAR) was launched in 2006 with the ultimate goal to create 422 companies and 123,000 new jobs by 2036. Investment in the initiative has been reduced twice due to budget constraints. Proponents are aiming to increase USTARs annual funding to $16 million in 2012. Watch for an in-depth analysis of USTAR in our April issue.

Liquor: Restrictive caps on liquor licenses for businesses, a highly scrutinized DABC, the end of the so-called happy hour, and the closure of state liquor stores are all hot-button items being discussed this session. Groups like the Salt Lake Chamber and Utah Hospitality Association are calling for liquor law modernization, arguing that modernization would lead to a welcoming climate for tourism and business recruitment efforts. Watch for a detailed report of Utah's ever-changing liquor laws in our April issue.

Immigration: Always a divisive topic, immigration issues such as E-Verify and last year's highly debated HB116, Utah's guest worker law, will take the stage again this session. E-Verify, which requires employers with 15 or more...