The first of two bills aimed at restricting legal abortions in Utah is headed to the governor’s desk after a final vote of 20-6 in the Senate on Thursday.
HB166 prohibits abortions based on a pre-natal diagnosis of Down syndrome, but would not take effect unless and until similar bans in other states are upheld by the courts.
Asked after Thursday’s vote why the bill is good for Utah, Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, said it is a sensitive issue.
“The blessing of life and the blessing of Down syndrome kids and their simple way of life and the way they look at things, that’s a hard question to answer,” Adams said, “and hopefully you just see the value of it.