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Winners and Losers in the 2018 Utah Legislature

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Lobbyist Spencer Stokes's pink flamingo (the Flamingo Forum) outside of the House Chamber in Salt Lake City, Thursday March 8, 2018.

Gov. Gary Herbert said the 2018 legislative session was “win, win, win.”

There were winners, but there were also some losers. Here’s a brief list, but this is just scratching the surface.

Winner

EnergySolutions • Lawmakers showed their No. 1 campaign donor some love, approving a $1.7 million break on state fees.

Loser

Highway safety • The Legislature quickly kicked to the curb a proposed ban on driving while using a hand-held cellphone.

Loser

Electric and hybrid vehicle owners • Under a transportation bill, registration fees will increase substantially.

Winner

Public schools • If all the pieces fall into place — including a 10-cent gas tax increase before voters in November — schools could see an estimated $375 million annual funding bump.

Winner

Gun-rights advocates • Despite a push by GOP House Speaker Greg Hughes, lawmakers balked at passing any new gun laws in the wake of the Florida school shooting.

Loser

Salt Lake City • Mayor Jackie Biskupski denounced as an “unacceptable” power grab the Legislature’s creation of a new authority to oversee development of a trade hub in the northwest quadrant.

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