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Utah House rejects bill to phase out shelter gas chambers after floor debate
Summary
Lawmakers debated HB 187, which would have required Utah animal shelters to stop using gas chambers and adopt lethal injection by set deadlines; the House rejected the first substitute after extended debate weighing worker safety, cost and local control.
Representative Johnny Anderson, sponsor of House Bill 187, told the House he intended the bill to end use of gas chambers in animal shelters and to require training and use of lethal injection for animals brought to shelters. Anderson said the bill would phase out gas-chamber euthanasia for domestic animals by July 1, 2017, and for wild animals by July 1, 2018, and emphasized staff safety and available training resources.
Supporters cited professional guidelines and shelter experience. Anderson noted a two-page handout from the National Animal Care and Control Association and data from the Davis County Animal Care and Control director describing thousands of animals handled in 2015 without use of gas chambers and without staff injuries.
Opponents, including Representatives Cox, Noelle, Thurston and others, urged local discretion. Representative Cox moved and the House adopted a technical numbering amendment in the sponsor’s name. Several members said shelters need flexibility to decide which euthanasia method fits local conditions, that rural or county shelters may use chambers under safe conditions, and that cost and logistics matter for small jurisdictions. Representative Thurston described situations in which handlers find lethal injection difficult for semi‑feral animals and urged leaving techniques to the professionals who handle animals daily.
After debate and summation, the House voted on the first substitute of HB 187. The floor clerk announced a vote result that the substitute did not pass (recorded in the transcript as having received 31 yea and 40 nay votes). The sponsor said the bill would not move forward in its current form.
The House also recorded the adoption of the sponsor’s technical amendment prior to the final vote. The clerk noted the failed vote and referred the file for clerical follow-up.
