Issue: Ending the availability of lifetime big game, game bird and fishing licenses.
History: Utahns have been able to buy the lifetime permits for $500 - a real bargain for avid hunting and fishing enthusiasts. But the license was cutting deeply into the Division of Wildlife Resources' budget, which has already been hurt by depressed sales of hunting licenses. Talk of banning the licenses sent hunters packing to buy before the offer expired: DWR sold about 1,300 over the past 10 years but sold 2,700 in recent weeks and 700 in the past week.Action: The governor signed the repeal into law Tuesday, shortly after the bill sailed through the Senate. No more lifetime licenses will be sold, but licenses already sold are still valid.
Pros and cons: The new law saves money for the state but kills a sweet deal for hunters.