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Utah Senate advances hate-crime sentencing-enhancement bill after extended debate
Summary
The Utah Senate voted to move SB 37, a bill to enhance penalties for bias-motivated crimes, to third reading after lengthy floor debate about constitutional limits, evidentiary rules and community safety. The measure passed 21–7 with one absent.
Sen. Suazo moved and the Utah Senate voted to advance Senate Bill 37, a sentencing-enhancement measure for bias-motivated crimes, to third reading after an extended floor debate that split the chamber.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Suazo, told colleagues the measure would strengthen an ineffective Utah hate-crime statute and said the text follows established precedent: “If the trier of fact finds beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant in committing an offense selected the victim primarily because of bias or…
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