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Utah House set to vote on hate crimes bill after committee OKs it despite objections to sponsor’s ‘flippant’ comments

(Leah Hogsten | Tribune file photo) SB 103 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.