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House adopts substitute hate-crimes bill after clarifying amendment
Summary
The Utah House unanimously passed substitute H.B. 112 after lawmakers adopted a floor amendment narrowing the statute to require intent to cause fear that interferes with a person's exercise of rights. Sponsors said the change tightens the law to avoid constitutionally protected speech while protecting targeted individuals.
The Utah House on Feb. 11 adopted a substitute hate-crimes bill, H.B. 112, after approving a floor amendment that tightened the law’s mens rea element.
Representative Pignanelli, the bill’s sponsor, opened debate by recounting constituent incidents of harassment and property defacement and said the measure had broad backing from religious and ethnic organizations. He said the goal is to send “a strong signal that we care” and to provide statutory tools to address…
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