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Governor signs ‘fetal pain’ bill into law

Posted at 7:36 AM, Mar 29, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-29 09:36:36-04

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Governor Gary Herbert has signed a controversial abortion bill into law.

The governor on Monday signed the bill that would require an anesthetic or analgesic to be used on a fetus 20 weeks or older. The so-called “fetal pain” bill is the first of its kind in the nation.

Planned Parenthood and other abortion rights groups protested the bill, sponsored by Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, accusing lawmakers of ignoring medical science and inserting themselves in a woman’s personal decisions.

The abortion bill was among 56 the governor signed into law on Monday. Others include:

  • A bill that requires information technology workers who discover child porn on a computer to report it to law enforcement.
  • A bill that creates oversight should the state win a lawsuit for control of federal lands in Utah.
  • A bill that adds pregnant and breastfeeding women to the list of protected classes in Utah’s non-discrimination law.

The governor has until March 30 to sign bills into law.