In this Feb. 5, 2015, file photo, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert speaks to reporters during a news conference at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City. Herbert signed 136 more bills from the 2018 legislative session Tuesday. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Gov. Gary Herbert signed 136 bills into law on Tuesday. This brings the total number of signed bills from the 2018 Legislative Session to 325.
Before a bill can become a law, the governor must sign it. Every bill that passed during the 2018 General Legislative Session has been sent to the governor, and only the ones that he signs will have the force of law.
Among the signed bills are domestic violence provisions, a breastfeeding protection act, opioid abuse prevention and treatment amendments, and fireworks amendments.
HB160, domestic violence provisions, will allow courts to order victims and perpetrators to transfer their wireless telephone numbers in domestic violence cases, according to the bill text.
HB196, the breastfeeding protection act, will allow women to breastfeed in any public place without fear of discrimination. The law will prohibit public establishments from asking breastfeeding women to leave and breastfeed elsewhere, according to the bill text. The bill also prohibits discrimination based on pregnancy.
HB399, opioid abuse prevention and treatment amendments, will require a warning label and an informational pamphlet to be distributed with all opiate prescriptions. The bill text says the Department of Health will be required to develop the informational pamphlets and pharmacists will be required to affix the warning labels and display the pamphlets. Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy, sponsored the bill hoping to aid addiction recovery and hinder the opioid epidemic in Utah.
SB67, fireworks amendments, will restrict firework usage to 10 days in the year and will restrict the hours they can be fired on those days. Fireworks will be allowed July 2–5, 22–25, Dec. 31 and on Chinese New Year. According to the bill text, this will require the Utah Fire Prevention Board to make these amendments into a uniform statewide policy.
Herbert still has about 200 bills passed by this year's general legislation to consider.
For more information on these bills, or to view all bills that have passed or been signed this year, visit the Utah Legislature website.