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Utah House passes bill tightening bigamy statute after heated debate
Summary
After hours of debate over constitutional and enforcement concerns, the Utah House passed first substitute HB 99, which revises bigamy language, adds enhanced penalties tied to fraud and abuse, and includes safe-harbor defenses; the measure passed 48-25 and moves to the Senate.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House on Thursday approved first substitute House Bill 99, a measure that revises the state's bigamy statute to address a federal court ruling and to strengthen penalties for related crimes, after an hours-long, often emotional debate that split lawmakers across legal and policy lines.
Representative Michael Noel, the bill sponsor, said HB 99 corrects wording that a federal judge had found vulnerable to constitutional challenge and restores compliance with Utah's enabling act. "This is my bill, and, I would ask for support," he said in presenting the measure and describing amendments that add safe-harbor provisions for victims and clarify defenses for those who reasonably believed a marriage to be legal.
Supporters argued the changes better…
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