Changes will affect murder sentences, taxes, abortion

Utahns will have 304 new laws to obey come midnight Sunday, as most of the legislation passed by the 2006 Legislature takes effect on Monday.

The 104 part-time lawmakers actually passed 371 bills, the highest number since 2004. But Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. vetoed four of the 2006 crop, and other new laws take effect at different times throughout this year.

Some of the hottest topics of the 45-day general session actually did not become law.

Legislators set aside $70 million for personal income tax relief but didn't adopt a bill to allocate the funds.

They also did not pass bills that dealt with teaching evolution in public schools or restricting gay/straight alliance school clubs.

The food tax bill will save Utahns an estimated $70 million through the reduction of the state sales tax on unprepared food by 2 percentage points. However, that law doesn't take effect until Jan. 1, 2007.

But legislators did pass myriad new laws — which take effect Monday — that deal with a broad range of topics, from abortion and hate crimes to driving permits.

A few examples:

Crime and punishment

• Prosecutors can argue for enhanced sentences for someone convicted of a so-called "hate crime."

• First-degree murder now carries a 15-year-to-life sentence, raising the minimum possible sentence, a response to the murder of Lori Hacking by her husband, Mark.

• You must be a true Native American, belonging to a recognized Indian tribe, to use peyote in a religious ceremony.

• The penalty for the rape of a child goes up. So does the penalty for trespassing.

• Everyone convicted of a Class A misdemeanor must provide the state with a sample of their DNA.

• Tougher penalties are now in place for so-called "street racing," including having one's car impounded by the police.

The family

• Minor girls must have parental permission before they can obtain an abortion. Previously, minors only had to inform a parent before getting a legal abortion.