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Governor vetoes Becky Lockhart Memorial Highway bill

Posted at 4:45 PM, Apr 01, 2015
and last updated 2015-04-01 23:28:14-04

SALT LAKE CITY -- Governor Gary Herbert has vetoed a bill that would have renamed a portion of I-15 after former House Speaker Becky Lockhart.

The governor said he did not do it in response to the protests by some veterans groups, but at the request of the late-Speaker's family.

"This afternoon, I received a phone call from Stan Lockhart who requested I veto the bill and I have opted to honor his wishes. While I am disappointed by the controversy that seemed to diminish the Legislature’s recognition of Speaker Lockhart, I am committed to working with lawmakers and the Lockhart family to find an appropriate memorial to honor the memory of this historic leader," the governor said in a statement.

The legislature voted unanimously to pass House Bill 385, which would have renamed a chunk of freeway from Lehi to Spanish Fork in honor of Lockhart, the first woman Speaker of the House in Utah, who died earlier this year from an extremely rare neurodegenerative brain disorder. But I-15 is already named Veterans Memorial Highway, and some groups led demonstrations saying they felt it was disrespectful.

HB385 wasn't the only bill the governor vetoed on Wednesday:

Bill Number

Bill Name

Bill Sponsor

HB197

Educator Licensing Amendments

Coleman, K.

HB0385

Memorial Highway Designation

Stratton, K.

SB94

Corporate Franchise and Income Tax Amendments

Stephenson, H.

SB249

Trax Crossing Bars Operations Amendments

Jenkins, S.

SB278

Motion Picture Incentive Amendments

Bramble, C.

*SB3

Appropriations Adjustments

Hillyard, L.

He signed these remaining bills into law:

HB42

Annexation Amendments

Westwood, J.

HB115

Public Safety Retirement for Dispatchers

Powell, K.

HB291

Procurement Changes

Stratton, K.

HB351

Mountainous Planning District Amendments

Dee, B.

HB406

Natural Gas Vehicle Amendments

Handy, S.

SB2

New Fiscal Year Supplemental Appropriations Act

Hillyard, L.

SB79

Impeachment Amendments

Adams, J.S.

The governor also allowed some bills to become law without his signature, including one that gives executive branch members a pay raise beginning in 2017.

Bill Number

Bill Name

Bill Sponsor

HB368

Executive Office Compensation

Wilson, B.

SB71

Tax Commissioners' Compensation

Weiler, T.

SB116

Public School Dropout Recovery

Osmond, A.

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