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Abortion waiting period gets nod from senateA bill to extend to 72 hours the waiting period for women seeking abortions in Utah received preliminary approval in the Utah Senate Wednesday afternoon, no debate or discussion.
The bill moved to the Senate's final passage calendar on a vote of 22-6.
HB461, sponsored by Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy, would triple the current waiting period, which is 24 hours. Utah would have one of the nation's longest waiting periods between the initial consultation and the procedure. However, the bill was amended to allow the initial consultation to occur anywhere in the state.
Carrying a gun is "not in itself threatening"
The Utah Senate gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a bill that says carrying a gun in public is not, in itself, threatening behavior.
On a vote of 22-4, the Utah Senate approved on second reading HB49, which is primarily a clarifying measure.
Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, the bill's Senate sponsor, said Utah law currently allows gun owners to carry weapons openly in public. HB49, sponsored by Rep. Paul Ray, R-Sunset, clarifies "the mere fact that you have a weapon that is either concealed or open carry, that in itself doesn't constitute threatening behavior," Bramble said.
Agricultural surveillance bill gets final approval
The Utah Senate gave final approval Wednesday to a bill intended to prohibit interference with agricultural operations.
HB187, co-sponsored by Rep. John Mathis, R-Vernal, is intended to prohibit trespassing at private agricultural operations to record images or sound from an agricultural operation or seeking employment under false pretenses with the intent of making such recordings.
Farmers, ranchers and people who operate processing plants "need to know who's coming on their property because of their food safety," Hinkins said during Senate debate Wednesday. Hinkins, R-Orangeville, Senate sponsor of the bill, said the legislation is primarily a trespassing prohibition.
The bill targets people who intentionally seek employment in agricultural operations "who have no reason to be there except espionage, to spy on the operation," Hinkins said in earlier debate. The bill establishes misdemeanor penalties for recording images or sounds without permission of the operator or intentionally seeking employment at an agricultural operation under false pretenses, such as recording information.
But some senators have concerns that whistleblowers would be caught up in the bill's provisions if they witness food safety or animal cruelty on farms or processing plants.
"Utah lawmakers Thursday will wrap up bits and pieces of a 45-day legislative session scheduled to end by midnight.
The item on top of Senate President Michael Waddoups' list of priorities: "The budget."
The House and Senate approved bills this week that make up the bulk of the nearly $13 billion state budget, including a 1.15 percent increase for public education and a 1 percent increase of higher education. In addition, Republican leadership in both bodies late Wednesday agreed to a 1 percent cost-living-increase for state employees.
They also have a number of measures that need funding should they be enacted.
