Behind the Headlines: The 2019 legislative session in review
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune l-r Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill talks with Sen. Derek Kitchen, D-Salt Lake City prior to the vote in the Senate. SB103 by Sen. Kirk Cullimore, R-Draper SB103 sponsored by Daniel Thatcher, R- West Valley City, Utah's current hate crimes bill, moved ahead in the Senate on Monday with a preliminary 19-9 vote. Thatcher's bill would allow judges to increase penalties for a crime if a defendant is convicted of targeting someone based on ancestry, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, national origin, race, religion or sexual orientation. A person must first be convicted of a crime before additional penalties would apply. Under the state's current hate crimes law, only misdemeanor assaults can be enhanced as hate crimes. This update would also enable enhancements for felonies.
| March 14, 2019, 7:43 p.m.
| Updated: 8:04 p.m.
Bills at the 2019 Utah legislative session addressed hate crimes, abortion bans, radioactive waste, the alcohol content of store-bought beer, conversion therapy, naming a state reptile, reconsidering the state flag and so much more.
At 9 a.m. on Friday, Salt Lake Tribune editor Jennifer Napier-Pearce, and reporters Taylor Stevens and Benjamin Wood join KCPW’s Roger McDonough to recap the 2019 Utah legislative session. Every Friday at 9 a.m., stream “Behind the Headlines” at kcpw.org, or tune in to KCPW 88.3 FM or Utah Public Radio for the broadcast. Join the live conversation by calling (801) 355-TALK.