For the second time in recent years, a bill to abolish the death penalty in Utah has failed to gain enough traction to become law.
HB379 would have prohibited Utah prosecutors from seeking capital punishment in cases filed after May 8.
The bill passed out of committee last week with a favorable vote, and had been waiting for consideration from the full House. But bill sponsor Gage Froerer, R-Huntsville, motioned Friday for HB379 to be sent to rules committee — essentially killing the bill.
Froerer said he pulled the bill because he thought it would be “disrespectful” to waste an hour of time debating it so late in the legislative session, causing other bills to not be considered.