We’re more than halfway through the legislative session and bills are chuggin’ along. In this week’s episode, we update you on the status of various bills dealing with social issues including hate crimes, abortion, guns and LGBTQ protections. We grab (nonalcoholic) drinks with the beer lobby to talk about their push for heavier brews in grocery stores. And we ask: Why do people care about flags so much?
Bills & Issues Mentioned in this Episode:
- A measure to strengthen the state’s hate crimes law received unanimous support in its first public hearing since the LDS Church said it would not oppose the bill.
- Two Republican lawmakers stood alongside LGBTQ advocates Thursday and unveiled a bill to ban conversion therapy — a controversial form of therapy that purports to change a person’s sexuality — for minors.
- A pair of measures to restrict abortions in Utah are moving through the legislature even as other states like New York and Virginia are expanding access to the procedure.
- A handful of bills dealing with guns — including one motivated by the death of University of Utah student Lauren McCluskey — got a hearing with mixed support.
- The LDS Church opposes a bill to raise the alcohol limit for beer sold in grocery and convenience stores. Will that affect the bill’s chances? We spoke to a lobbyist behind the push to find out
- Two lawmakers think Utah’s “S.O.B. (seal on a bedsheet)” flag needs a makeover, but a hearing over their proposals highlight just how difficult it will be to find consensus on a new flag.
