Letter: Laws need to meet constitutional muster

(Francisco Kjolseth | Tribune file photo) Rep. Kim Coleman, R-West Jordan, sponsored HB158, a bill that aims to punish harassment but protect free speech on college campuses.In an April 22 article, Robert Gehrke raised alarm that many pieces of legislation pending in legislatures aren’t written from scratch by elected lawmakers, but often originate with model legislation, or from other subject matter experts.

To illustrate that the phenomenon occurs in Utah, Gehrke singled out Rep. Kim Coleman’s legislation on campus free speech, which he incorrectly identified as being a version of the Goldwater Institute’s model legislation.

As the legislative and policy director at the Foundation for…