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SALT LAKE CITY — Tuesday, the Utah Senate approved a controversial gun bill that would allow Utahns to carry concealed firearms without a permit.

Senate endorses bill allowing concealed guns to be carried without permit

The Utah Senate [HB76](http://www.ksl.com/?sid=24376666&nid=960'target=_blank>gave initial approval Tuesday to a controversial bill that would allow people to carry concealed guns without a permit.

"HB76"). "This is something that strengthens the right to carry a firearm."

The Senate voted 19-6 in favor of the measure in a preliminary vote. It would need to pass once more before it could be sent to the governor for consideration.

Another controversial gun measure, HB114, didn't make the Senate's prioritized list of House bills to consider as the legislative session nears closure Thursday. That bill attempts to assert Utah's right to bar enforcement of federal gun laws in the state.

Senate approves plans to build hotel near Salt PalaceA bill that would provide tax incentives for a private developer to build a convention center hotel in downtown Salt Lake City narrowly passed the Senate on Monday.

Under the proposal, a private developer would finance construction of the hotel, while public funds would be used to purchase the land for the property and to build a parking structure, costing taxpayers an estimated $99.5 million.

The projected public investment would be paid back in 7½ years and would yield a 14.6 percent return, according the Strategic Advisory Group, a firm hired by Salt Lake County to assess the economic impact of the project.

Once built, the hotel would receive a 20-year sales tax rebate from the state, contingent upon its success.

Bill prompted by Swallow consulting work passes House

A bill aimed at stopping political appointees in the state's elected executive offices, including the attorney general's office, was approved Tuesday by the House.

SB83, sponsored by Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, was amended in the House to make sure the appointees aren't compensated for providing consulting and other services to state agencies that would fall under their job descriptions.

The bill was prompted by Utah Attorney General John Swallow's outside consulting work. The attorney general, who is under federal investigation, received $23,500 for working as a consultant on a cement plant project in Nevada while he was chief deputy attorney general.

Because the bill was amended in the House, it returns to the Senate.

The Senate approved the bill 15-13.

House passes bill that bans charging to remove mug shots

The House passed a bill Monday that would make it illegal to charge for the removal of mug shots published online.

HB408 is a response to an operation where individuals running certain websites obtain hundreds of mug shots from sheriff's offices through open records requests, publish them, then charge exorbitant fees to have them removed.

The bill passed with a 73-0 vote and will head to the Senate for consideration.

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