It voted 67-0 to approve HB145, which is officially a “pedestrian safety bill.” It now goes to the Senate for approval.
“We don’t want individuals soliciting funds or interacting with a driver for safety reasons,” said Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy, sponsor of the bill.
Last year, the Legislature outlawed panhandling at freeway exits and along high-speed highways by taking a different approach than previous, similar laws that were struck down as unconstitutional.
The old laws specifically targeted panhandling, which courts ruled is a protected form of free speech. The new laws ostensibly are designed to improve pedestrian safety, and Eliason says they do no infringe on free speech.