SALT LAKE CITY -- The 2015 session of the Utah Legislature comes to an end Thursday, and Utah Gov. Gary Herbert sat down with FOX 13 News as the clock crept closer to midnight and the official end of the session.
During his interview, Herbert spoke about several bills that were up for debate this year and discussed a few bills he planned to sign and one he intends to veto. He started by talking about plans to seek a solution to Medicaid expansion in Utah, an issue that brought contentious debate to the Capitol. A deal was not reached during the session, but a special session could be in the works.
Herbert said he plans to veto SB256, which amends Utah's laws so that anyone who is 21 years of age or older would be able to carry a concealed weapon, even without a concealed weapon permit.
The governor also spoke about bills he will look closely at, like HB11--which would bring back the firing squad as a possible method of execution. The firing squad would only be an option if the drugs used for lethal injection were to become unavailable.
Herbert also said he will sign SB297, which is a bill that allows county clerks and various state officials to opt out of performing marriages for same-sex couples.The bill provides a stipulation that the county clerk's office would have to have one employee, or someone in the community on standby, who would be willing to perform same-sex marriages.
See the video above for Herbert's interview with FOX 13 News' Ben Winslow.
