Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, added his support Friday to a long-dormant effort to update and strengthen Utah’s hate-crimes law, which has never resulted in a successful conviction under its current language.
Despite his backing, Adams said, the bill continues to face opposition among Senate Republicans.
“I’m fine with the bill, personally,” Adams said. “However, I found out that me being fine with it doesn’t mean the rest of the caucus is.”
The bill, SB103, is sponsored by Sen. Daniel Thatcher, R-West Valley City, and would add enhanced penalties to crimes in which a victim is targeted because of their ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation and other individual or group characteristics.