USA - Utah. The Senate voted today to approve a bill that scraps the death penalty.

The Utah state Senate voted 15-12 today to approve SB 189, a bill that scraps the death penalty. 15 state senators is the minimum number needed for passage. 2 senators were absent. This legislation went to the House on Wednesday and was introduced there the same day. In Utah, bills must be read three separate times in each of the two chambers. It would take at least 38 votes in the House to approve the bill and send it to Herbert. If the bill does wind up passing the House and Herbert opts for a veto, it would require a two-thirds vote in both chambers to override that. Utah’s legislative session is scheduled to end next week.