A lion statue is pictured at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City in winter. (Photo by Aaron Hawkins/Getty Images)
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox wasted no time signing a bill into law that gives the state an avenue to not comply with directives from the federal government.
On Wednesday, the day after the Utah Legislature approved SB57 , the “Utah Constitutional Sovereignty Act,” Cox signed the legislation.
“Balancing power between state and federal sovereignty is an essential part of our constitutional system,” Cox said in a prepared statement. “This legislation gives us another way to push back on federal overreach and maintain that balance.”
Sponsored by Sen. Scott Sandall, R-Tremonton, SB57 would allow lawmakers to reject any action from the federal government they view as unconstitutional, unless a court rules otherwise.
The bill passed after a 24-5 vote in the Senate, with Sen. Kathleen Riebe, D-Cottonwood Heights, the only Democrat to join Republicans supporting the bill; and in the House it received a 57-14 vote along party lines, backed by Republicans.