2015 Legislative Report
Libertas Institute is primarily an educational institution, spreading the message of liberty through articles, lectures, media, and other outlets. Part of our work also entails proposing reforms that would make the laws more...
SB296: Anti-Discrimination and Religious Liberty, Violating Property Rights
This bill passed the Senate 23-5 and passed the House 65-10. It was subsequently signed into law by Governor Herbert. Libertas Institute opposes this bill. Following negotiations between legislators, LDS Church leaders, and LGBT...
SB259: Legalizing Medical Cannabis in Utah
This bill failed in the Senate on a 14-15 vote. Libertas Institute supports this bill. In 1915, 100 years ago, the Utah legislature banned a wide range of drugs, including cannabis. At the same time, the law specifically...
HB386: Creating Statewide Guidelines for Police Body Cameras
This bill was not considered by the legislature. Libertas Institute supports this bill. Libertas Institute spent hundreds of man hours over the past year working on a comprehensive proposal for the use of body cameras in Utah....
HB356: Protecting Innocent Parents from DCFS Taking their Children
This bill passed the House 71-1 and passed the Senate unanimously. It was subsequently signed into law by Governor Herbert. Libertas Institute supports this bill. See below for an update. Utah law allows the Division of Child and...
SB226: Requiring a Warrant for Police to See Through Our Walls
This bill passed both chambers of the legislature unanimously and was signed into law by Governor Herbert. Libertas Institute supports this bill. A 2001 U.S. Supreme Court case, Kylio v. U.S., addressed the use of thermal imaging...
HB348: Widespread Criminal Justice Reform in Utah
This bill passed the House 72-3 and passed the Senate unanimously. It was subsequently signed into law by Governor Herbert. Libertas Institute supports this bill. Following town hall meetings, research, and significant...
SB204: Making More Explicit a Parent’s Right to Opt a Child out of Testing
This bill passed the Senate 18-6 and passed the House 54-19. It was subsequently signed into law by Governor Herbert. Libertas Institute supports this bill. As revealed in our recent interview with a Utah mother, schools...
A Tale of Economic Protectionism, Car Dealerships, and the Utah Legislature
Several legislators are attempting to push back against protectionist laws that favor the car dealership industry. And the car dealerships are, unsurprisingly, pushing back. Under current law, a new car dealership cannot be...
HB260: Constitutional Carry in Utah
This bill was not considered by the legislature. Libertas Institute supports this bill. Utah law prohibits a person from having a concealed firearm, imposing a class B misdemeanor as the penalty. Anybody who obtains a concealed...