by:Zaid Jilani,Nexstar Media Wire

Posted:Aug 15, 2022 / 08:37 AM CDT

Updated:Aug 15, 2022 / 08:37 AM CDT

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(NewsNation) — Utah is seeing a surge in child support payments over the past year, a change that state officials credit in part to a new state law that withholds hunting and fishing licenses to people who fall significantly behind on payments.

“I came up with the idea for the bill, actually, in talking with some of my constituents who had noncustodial partners that were overdue on child support and going out and spending lots and lots of money hunting and fishing,” said state Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, who authored and passed the bill enacting the new law two years ago. It went into effect in 2021.

The law blocks anyone from obtaining a hunting or fishing license if they are past due more than $2,500 in child…