SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Legislature is ending its session after passing a record 573 bills, including allowances for more alcohol in beer, an abortion ban that could be among the strictest in the country, and a long-awaited update to the hate crimes law.
Lawmakers wrapped up their 2019 session shortly before midnight, after taking action on final issues like setting the Gila monster as the state reptile and banning the use of shackles on jailed women during childbirth.
Republican Gov. Gary Herbert says lawmakers took on some of the most complicated, difficult issues he’s seen during the 10 sessions he’s presided over.
The session did include some protest over issues like scaling back voter-approved Medicaid expansion and the collapse of a proposed ban on LGBTQ conversion therapy.
