PROVO — Gov. Gary Herbert isn't eager to tweak Utah's new anti-discrimination and religious rights law or dive into the tough issue of public accommodations.

Still, he anticipates at least talk along those lines when state lawmakers meet in general session next January.

"I expect that there will be discussion in future legislatures on both sides about what do we do to fine tune it," the governor said. "I'm a little hesitant about that because that could just disrupt the apple cart."

Herbert spoke and took questions Wednesday at a conference on religious freedom put on by the BYU International Center for Law and Religious Studies. He called the compromise bill a "shining example" of people coming together and lamented that the U.S. Supreme Court took the decision on same-sex marriage out of states' hands.

Senate Majority Whip Stuart Adams, R-Layton, said lawmakers didn't address all the issues last legislative session but did create a template for a fair and balanced approach. He said he's not sure what to expect next session but figures there will be some religious liberty and nondiscrimination bills.

"I'm hearing rumors of some, but none of them are mine, so I don't know if they're real or not. You keep hearing on the street what some people are thinking about but I don't know anything for sure," he said.

Herbert told reporters afterward that it's not a matter of being unwilling to get into public accommodations, but said it's a complex, emotional issue. He also said his support for a religious freedom restoration bill would depend on what's in it.

"I think shoring up religious freedom is a good thing, certainly making sure at the same time we don't have any discrimination in violation of people's civil rights. They need to go hand in hand, and I think they can. We've proven with what we've passed in Utah that we can do both," he said.

Related:

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The lawyer Utah hired to defend its marriage law says the U.S. Supreme Court lobbed a dozen "religious freedom grenades" when it legalized same-sex marriage across the country last month.

Herbert said he understands the baker who doesn't want to make a cake for a gay wedding for religious reasons. Nevertheless, it does "seem a little untoward to say, 'I'm going to pick which sinner, in their perspective, I'm going to serve.'"

But those are issues the state is going to face with legalized same-sex marriage, he said.

"I think we need to be careful about what we do," the governor said. "I think the law has been settled with the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage."

In his speech, Herbert said there seems to be a lot of "chaos" in people's minds.

"The order of things has been changed, and has been changed in somewhat of an abrupt manner," he said.

Herbert, though, said people don't need to jump to conclusions or be alarmists and worry that the sky is falling. "We need to be thoughtful, rational folk and respect rights on all sides and differences of opinions," he said.

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