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Utah Lawmakers Once Again Consider Ending Death Penalty

tribtalk.org

Utah lawmakers are once again considering getting rid of the death penalty, two years after legislators came close to making the move.

A bill sponsored by Republican state Rep. Gage Froerer of Huntsville would prohibit Utah prosecutors from seeking the death penalty starting May 8. The nine men currently on death row would still be executed.

Utah legislators came close to abolishing the death penalty in 2016 — but the bill never reached the House floor before the midnight deadline on the last night of session. The issue was not considered during last year's session.

Froerer said he will elaborate on the legislation later this week.

If passed, Utah would join 19 other states and the District of Columbia in outlawing capital punishment.