The measure was among 27 bills from the 2005 Legislature that Huntsman signed. The Logan event kicked off a series of ceremonies around the state where the governor will sign bills sponsored by legislators in those areas.

Huntsman said he plans to sign as many of the 371 new bills as possible in the communities where their sponsors live. Today, Huntsman is scheduled to sign legislation in Provo, Kanab and St. George.

Senate Bill 14, sponsored by Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, establishes procedures for determining paternity and filling out Utah birth certificates. At the same time, the new law will allow parents to contract with - and pay the expenses of - a surrogate who gives birth to their child in a Utah hospital.

"This provides an important option for couples who are not able to have children of their own," Huntsman said after the signing ceremony in the Logan City Council Chambers.

Legislative newcomer Rep. Scott Wyatt, R-Logan, was also on hand to see three bills he sponsored signed.

The former Cache County attorney said of particular importance to him was House Bill 297, "Aggravated Murder Amendments," which was signed in the presence of the family of murder victim Trisha Autry.

The bill makes it a capital crime to commit murder and then dismember or desecrate the body and adds a "serial killer" provision that says a person can be charged with aggravated murder for committing more than one murder even if the other murder has not been prosecuted yet.

Huntsman also signed House Bill 318, which restructures the state Department of Community and Economic Development by moving economic development and tourism promotion directly under the governor's office and creating a new Department of Community and Culture to coordinate state and local programs for community and cultural development.

"It's great to come to where the representatives are to sign [bills] because this is where you can see the good people of this community and you can, in a way, honor those you've elected to represent you," Huntsman said.

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Tribune reporters Thomas Burr and Rebecca Walsh contributed to this story.