Polygamy Is No Longer A Felony In The State Of Utah, U.S.A

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A law to decriminalize bigamy among consenting  adults is now in effect in Utah, 

For many years bigamy was a third-degree felony, legally punishable by up to five years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine. 

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Gary Herbert in March and took effect on Tuesday.

Polygamy became a significant social and political issue in the United States in 1852, when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) made it known that a form of the practice, called plural marriage, was part of its doctrine.

Though the practice has long been illegal under state and federal law, the Utah attorney general's office has declined to prosecute the offense, except when it's committed along with other crimes.

The move “has overwhelming support, though it’s not without some controversy,” Herbert, a Republican, said in a monthly news conference Thursday at PBS Utah, noting it’s “probably warranted” to no longer make the act a felony offense.