Cox signs bipartisan bills on diversity, inclusion in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Governor Spencer Cox and Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson held a ceremony to signal a sequence of payments centered round range and inclusion within the state.

The payments, which all handed the Utah State Legislature with bipartisan help are “serving to to make Utah a spot the place there’s alternative for everybody, the place everybody can really feel welcome and included,” the governor mentioned in remarks Monday on the Jewish Neighborhood Middle.

Among the many payments:

• Making driver license exams accessible in a number of languages
• Increasing driver license companies to Afghan refugees who’ve not too long ago settled in Utah
• Recognizing Juneteenth as an official Utah state vacation
• Increasing well being care help for Utah’s racial and ethnic communities

The governor additionally signed a decision condemning antisemitism in Utah. The decision was run partly in response to an e mail a Silicon Slopes government despatched to plenty of tech agency CEOs and politicians, claiming a conspiracy principle involving Jewish folks and the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Proper right here at residence in Utah we now have had an more and more seen tide of antisemitism,” mentioned Rep. Doug Owens, D-Millcreek, the decision’s sponsor.

A decision was additionally signed warning college districts and youth sports activities applications to be extra accommodating to non secular clothes wants of kids with regards to athletic unforms. It happened after some Muslim youth had reported experiencing hassle attempting to play sports activities and never getting any help in the event that they wanted to put on a hijab, Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Herriman mentioned.

Eighth-grader Raneem Alsolaiman mentioned the decision will assist as she seeks to play sports activities and take part in different activites.

“It’s going to assist me know that I’ve the arrogance that if anyone tells me something about what I’m carrying… that I can inform them, ‘No that’s clearly within the legislation. It says I can do that and there’s nothing proscribing it,’ proper? It might probably assist different youngsters like me, seeing me put on these items and with the ability to get up in opposition to it,” she advised FOX 13 Information.

Monday’s signing was ceremonial to name consideration to the laws. The governor had beforehand signed the payments within the authorized window he is allowed after the legislature adjourns.