Capital West News

A bill that would have charged a fee for using plastic bags failed to pass a Senate committee.

FILE- This Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, file photo shows the Utah House of Representatives on the floor at the Utah State Capitol, in Salt Lake City. A resolution passed Feb. 26 that limits time reporters can approach House members before the House begins debate and voting.

Utah saw 5,748 distracted driver crashes in 2016, according to the Governor’s Highways Safety Association. Ten percent of all Utah crashes involve a distracted driver. (Haley Mosher)

SB126 would repeal current laws that provide protections and regulations for individuals involved in surrogate births. (AP photo)

SB126 would require the Dept. of Agriculture and Food to issue licenses regulating hemp cannabidiol production and sale. Hemp cannabidiol products would be sold by pharmacies. (AP Photo)

A young girl molds Play-Doh at an early morning preschool class at BYU. HB164 would create a task force of educators and legislators to form a plan for state-funded preschools in Utah. (Maddi Dayton)

Diana Alm shares a moment with her children outside the House Education Committee meeting Wednesday. New legislation could fund teacher visits to homes of students if passed. (Lilian Whitney)

A bill that would reduce the number of days fireworks can legally be set off in Utah passed on the House floor and is up for consideration by the Utah Senate.

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah lawmakers are preparing a bill aimed at improving the way emotional trauma victims are treated in the criminal justice system.

Sen. Daniel W. Thatcher, R-West Valley CIty, sits on the Senate floor at the Utah State Capitol, February 2017. Thatcher is sponsoring a bill during the 2018 legislative session to strengthen the state's hate crimes law. (Rick Bowmer)

SALT LAKE CITY — Members of Gov. Gary Herbert’s Education Excellence Commission presented their plan to improve the quality of education throughout Utah at a State Capitol news conference on Jan. 26.

The Utah State Capitol sits in Salt Lake City. Utah lawmakers aim to power through several hundred bills each year before wrapping up their 45-day day 2018 legislative session, and BYU students have several varying opportunities to make a difference in the legislative process. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah lawmakers introduced a bill at the state Capitol Monday morning that would ban abortions of unborn children diagnosed with Down syndrome.

A BYU graduate's proposed 2018 ballot initiative effort could lead to the legalization of medical marijuana in Utah. At the same time, a Utah County lawmaker says he will introduce a package of bills aimed the production and sale of cannabis-based medicines.

A Murray lawmaker is proposing a bill in the 2018 Legislature that would eliminate straight ticket voting for mail-in voters, but not for voters at polling places. A BYU political science professor isn't sure that Republican lawmakers will approve the measure.

Utah is one of six states without anti-suicide legislation. (Bryan Pearson)

Elizabeth Baker and her fiancé Michael Ruesch discuss their experience attending a marriage prep class. SB54 would give a $20 marriage bill fee discount to couples who take marriage prep classes. (Savannah Hopkinson)

SALT LAKE CITY -- When a bill about bigamy was first introduced at the Capitol, several polygamists said that they were afraid of being discovered and prosecuted.