SB211 banishes the sale of the sweet, flavored malt beverages to state-run liquor stores. Lawmakers argued that the alcoholic beverages were targeted at underage drinkers and led to more serious drinking and drug problems.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints supported the change.

Huntsman threatened to veto the proposal, calling the proposal "wrong-headed" and saying it would "encounter a buzz saw" unless lawmakers coupled it with a proposal he supported to liberalize Utah's liquor laws.

Huntsman backed increasing the volume of alcohol that could be served in bars and restaurants but doing away with the so-called "sidecar," an extra shot of alcohol that bars could serve.

Huntsman signed into law a bill (HB359) raising the state sales tax on merchandise other than groceries by .05 percent. The $21.8 million the tax increase would generate would primarily by used for critical highway projects.

House Speaker Greg Curtis had estimated the hike would translate to a $9 per person increase annually. Curtis and Senate President John Valentine styled the change as a "tax shift" because the Legislature also granted targeted tax decreases of nearly $22 million. The largest one was an $18 million tax credit for self-employed Utahns' health insurance premiums.

Huntsman also signed legislation intended to protect cities from forfeiting water rights if they don't use them and designating one week in April as "Love Your Library Week."