SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Utah’s legislative session starts Monday after several busy months that saw the resignation and replacement of the state’s attorney general and the surprise legalization of gay marriage for 17 days.
Lawmakers returning to Utah’s Capitol Hill are expected to deal with the fallout from those issues, with proposals to tighten campaign disclosure requirements and protect religious rights of gay marriage opponents.
Beyond that, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is offering up more than dozen bills to tackle Utah’s air quality problems.
Regulations on alcohol and guns, two perennial hot-button issues, are also expected to make repeat appearances this year.
Lawmakers are also expected to debate proposals to raise Utah’s smoking age to 21, legalize a medical marijuana extract and expand Medicaid eligibility.
On top of that, the Republican-controlled Legislature also has to craft and pass a balanced budget by March 13.
As the jam-packed 45-day session kicks off Monday, here’s a look at some of the items lawmakers are expected to debate:
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
The court battle and final decision about Utah’s same-sex marriage ban will play out this spring and beyond, but Utah lawmakers are still expected to grapple with the issue over the next three months. Utah officials scrambled after a federal judge issued a surprise ruling in late December overturning the marriage ban. More than 1,000 gay couples rushed to wed as the state worked to halt the weddings and file an appeal. The next court to consider the case is not expected to rule until at least March. In the meantime, several lawmakers are working on legislation to protect religious rights in the wake of gay marriage. One proposal stipulates that clergy and other religious officials do not have to perform marriages that violate their beliefs. Another lawmaker is working on a proposal that would allow people to contribute money to defend the ban while filing their income taxes.
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
Sen. Steve Urquhart, a Republican from St. George, will try again this year to pass a statewide ban on discrimination based on sexual identity or orientation. Last year, the proposal made it further than ever before, winning an approval vote by a committee before it died in the legislative process. Urquhart says he will run the bill every year until it passes. There’s already opposition to the measure, with conservative groups running television advertisements to oppose it. With same-sex marriage bringing gay-rights issues to a head, Urquhart’s proposal may draw stronger support and opposition than last year.
ALCOHOL
Utah’s liquor laws are among the tightest in the country, and one Utah lawmaker is working on legislation to roll back some of those restrictions. Rep. Kraig Powell, a Heber City Republican, has a proposal nixing a requirement for some Utah restaurants to prevent customers from seeing bartenders mix and pour drinks. The rule, which was passed in 2009, requires some restaurants to use a barrier or separate preparation area. The rule is known as the “Zion curtain,” a reference to the Mormon church. Powell’s bill would also get rid of a rule requiring restaurants to serve alcohol with a food purchase. Right now, restaurants cannot serve an alcoholic drink without confirming a customer intends to order food. Powell’s bill was made public Friday, days after The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement urging lawmakers to keep the current rules in place. The church said the rules are “closely tied to the moral culture of the state.”
AIR QUALITY
A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Wednesday unveiled more than a dozen proposals to tackle Utah’s pollution problems. Utah’s air can be among the worst in the nation, particularly in the winter, as high-pressure systems trap smog in northern Utah valleys. Lawmakers on the Clean Air Caucus are working on bills to increase the use of public transit and cleaner-burning vehicles, cut down on wood burning and boost public awareness about the issue. Gov. Gary Herbert is also asking lawmakers to set aside $4 million for air quality research, planning and grants, and another $14 million to make state vehicles and school buses more energy efficient.
CAMPAIGN AND ELECTION LAWS
Former Attorney General John Swallow resigned in late 2013 after months of allegations of misconduct, including accusations he violated of campaign disclosure laws. Swallow denies wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crimes, but lawmakers are working on proposals they hope will prevent a similar situation. Sen. Todd Weiler, a Woods Cross Republican, has a proposal that would change the office from an elected position to one appointed by the governor. Weiler says it may keep the office free from the influence of campaign contributions. A legislative committee that investigated Swallow is expected to recommend other changes to campaign laws, including proposals to tighten disclosure requirements.
GUNS
Proposals to expand gun-rights were hotly debated last year, with supporters and opponents packing rooms at the Capitol. One proposal that died last year is expected return in 2014. Rep. Paul Ray, a Clearfield Republican, is bringing back his bill defining when law enforcement can cite someone for disorderly conduct if they’re openly carrying a gun. Under his proposal, someone could not be cited for simply carrying a holstered weapon. Another lawmaker is working on a proposal to entice gun manufacturers to the state.
Utah’s legislative session is scheduled to run from Jan. 27 to May 13.
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