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SALT LAKE CITY — Lawmakers have passed a bill that would make Utah the first state in the U.S. to allow lawsuits against pornographers for "harm" to minors.
SB185 was passed by the House with a 50-8 vote Tuesday. After an earlier vote of 26-0 to approve the bill, the Senate concurred with House amendments, forwarding the bill to Gov. Gary Herbert for consideration.
The bill comes after its sponsor, Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, made national headlines last year proposing a resolution that declared pornography a "public health crisis."
The bill creates a civil cause of action for minors who are exposed to pornography.
"It holds accountable the manufacturers, producers and distributors of physical or psychological harm," said the bill's House sponsor, Rep. Keven Stratton, R-Orem.
The bill was passed with little debate.
— Katie McKellar
