Dear Ambassador:
The first few weeks of this session have been challenging for everyone who wants to make Utah a safer and more inclusive place. We experienced frustrating and hurtful debates on transgender rights, Utah’s abortion injunction, and Native American child welfare bills. It’s time to dig deeper for extra resilience, energy and motivation to carry us through to the mid-point of the session next week.
Here’s what’s going on:
HB 79 - Family Planning Services Revisions
Sponsor: Rep. Ray Ward
HB 79 allows people earning up to 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to access Medicaid family planning coverage such as contraception. This bill will be heard this Monday at 3:40pm in the House committee.
CALL TO ACTION: Text, email, and contact members of the House Business and Labor Committee to VOTE YES on HB 79.
HJR 2 - Joint Resolution Amending Rules of Civil Procedure on Injunctions
Sponsor: Rep. Brady Brammer
It is more clear than ever that this bill directly targets the injunction blocking Utah's total abortion ban. If it passes in the Senate, the state could force us back to court to seek new grounds to keep abortion legal. In addition, HJR2 would also wreak havoc in Utah's legal system, upsetting multiple current and future cases, and eroding the ability for individuals to challenge government overreach. HJR 2 is now on the Senate floor, where a 2/3 majority vote will make it take effect.
CALL TO ACTION: Text, email, and contact your Senator and ask them to VOTE NO on HJR 2
Here are some bills we are looking forward to see come out of Rules and another not so great bill:
Postpartum Medicaid Expansion Bills
Currently in Utah, a person must earn less than 144% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) (which is about $31,000 for a family of three) to qualify for pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage. This coverage also ends 60 days after the birth of a child despite available research that shows that 65% of Utah’s pregnancy-related deaths happen between 43 and 365 days post-partum.
Postpartum Medicaid expansion bills would extend coverage from 60 days to 12 months in Utah and increase the income eligibility to 200% of the federal poverty level. All birthing parents in Utah deserve quality care and coverage before, during, and after pregnancy.
There are several bills aiming to do just that- including HB 84 and HB 85 which are still in Rules. As legislators sort out which bills to advance to extend this vital Medicaid coverage, we will keep you in the loop so that we can let our legislators know that we support postpartum Medicaid Expansion in Utah.
HB 297 - Victim Services Amendments
Sponsor: Rep. Kera Birkeland
HB 297 burdens victims of sexual assault by limiting their personal autonomy and privacy and imposes an 18-week limit on rape survivors for accessing abortion care. This bill is not trauma informed, not supported by evidence, retraumatizes victims, and could also result in immediate safety risks.
We will keep you updated as these bills move through the legislative process.
Check out our bill tracker that is updated daily with bills we are watching this session.
You can also sign up to follow our Fast Democracy Bill Tracker here. To take action every week, join us for our Digital Advocacy Nights happening on Wednesdays at 7pm.
Lastly, we would like to uplift two upcoming abortion storytelling workshops for people who have had abortions by Planned Parenthood Association of Utah!
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