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Utah hate crime legislation clears hurdle among GOP senators and will be heard by state lawmakers — “This is a bill that’s time has come”

After weeks of standstill, a bill to strengthen Utah’s ineffective hate crimes law is on the move again with support from a critical mass of Senate Republicans.

"I think today we overcame the largest hurdle," Sen. Daniel Thatcher, the measure's sponsor, said Tuesday after emerging from a closed-door meeting with GOP colleagues.

Thatcher, a West Valley City Republican, walked out declaring that the measure on Thursday will finally get a hearing before the Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee. He’s confident he has the committee support to move the bill, SB103, forward to the full Senate, and although the floor vote will be close, he believes it will pass.