House Speaker David Ralston gaveled out the 2012 session of the Georgia General Assembly Thursday at midnight. State lawmakers tackled some thorny issues this session, including tax reform. But the volume of bills was much lower than last year, as many lawmakers were eager to finish up early so they could hit the campaign trail.

Now that the legislative session is over, lawmakers can turn their attention to the campaign trail—from raising money to raising awareness about issues that matter to their constituents. After an emotional last week of intense lobbying, deal brokering and compromising at the Capitol, Georgia lawmakers are looking ahead to November.

A bill that would abolish state programs and agencies if a legislative committee deems them unnecessary or ineffective is headed to Governor Nathan Deal for his signature. Under the bill, the committee would review the funding and function of state agencies and departments.

A bill that would help protect consumers against forgeries or so-called robo-signing by mortgage companies is headed to Governor Nathan Deal’s desk. Both chambers of the state legislature passed the bill. Until now, prosecutors couldn’t mortgage companies for falsifying foreclosure documents. Existing law only pertained to mortgage fraud and was aimed at the borrower.

Vowing to take their case to the polls, chanting, “Women will remember in November,” a line of women Senators walked out of both the House and Senate wrapped in police tape after the abortion bill passed both chambers. The bill shortens the period a woman in Georgia can have an abortion from 26 to 20 weeks. There are no exceptions for rape or incest.