From Deseret News archives:

Who did lawmakers help or hurt?

Published: Thursday, March 1, 2007 8:29 a.m. MST
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Hurt: Deer and elk, which will now have even more rifles pointed at them during the hunting season after the age limit for a big game license was lowered to 12 years.

Helped: Farmers selling produce at farmer's markets will no longer be required to have a food handler's permit.

Hurt: One note critics of the Republican-dominated Legislature who will, at least temporarily, find something besides education funding to denigrate them.

Helped: Police better track sex offenders, who will now be required to renew either a drivers license or a state identification card annually.

Hurt: St. Louis soccer fans, who will not be watching Real Salt Lake after state officials worked out a deal to keep Real Salt Lake in Sandy.

Helped: Water conservationists, who will now have a whole week to celebrate their water wise ways.

Hurt: Celebrants of Juneteenth Independence Day by not giving state recognition to the holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the South.

Helped: Celebrants of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday by sending to voters a resolution to stop meeting on that holiday, Presidents Day and any future federal holidays.

Hurt: Deadbeat dads dreaming of road trips who can now lose their drivers licenses if they fail to pay child support.

Helped: Rural counties struggling to maintain their infrastructure under the weight of oil and gas explorations with a dedicated fund.

Hurt: Prisoners who have perfected the license making process by making them master a new "Life Elevated" license plate.

Helped: Identity theft victims, who will now have an easier time accessing information and reporting the crime via the Internet.

Hurt: Unmarried domestic abuse victims, especially teenagers, who still cannot seek a restraining order against their abusers. (This changes if the bill passes.)

Hurt: Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, insulted after he denied a funding plan for the Real soccer stadium site and the state instead decided to pass a bill that forces the county's to pay for it using hotel-tax dollars.

Helped: Soccer fans, who will be watching the Real Salt Lake 2008 season games from a brand-new stadium in Sandy.

Hurt: Undocumented immigrants' sense of security, now that some law officers will be deputized to enforce immigration laws. (This changes if HB105 doesn't pass, up for vote in Senate.)

Helped: Game store clerks who will not have to worry about committing a felony by selling a violent video game to a mature looking 17-year-old.

Hurt: Identity thieves, some of whom now face tougher penalties.

Helped: Undocumented college and university students who can continue to pay in-state tuition.

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