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2023 Utah Legislative Session Week 5

Feb. 17, 2023 min read

By Planned Parenthood Action Council of Utah

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Dear Ambassador:

H.B. 467 (Rep. Karianne Lissonbee) stops the licensing for all abortion clinics by the end of 2023. It has just passed the House and is heading to the Senate with just two weeks left in the session. As we saw with HJR 2 that amended civil procedure retroactively, H.B. 467 is another example of legislators getting ahead of the courts.  

This complex bill is being rushed through the legislature. H.B. 467 will create problems for patients, providers and hospitals around our state. H.B. 467 makes hospitals the place where abortion care is provided. While there are cases where care in hospitals is needed, for the majority of abortions, we know that clinics offer quality, affordable and accessible care.  

Now is the time to rally and send a message to the Legislature to STOP messing with our health care. 

Whether you care about abortion access, affirming care for transgender youth, postpartum care, or all this rally is for you. Join us Wednesday, 2/22 at 4pm at the Utah Capitol Rotunda (350 State St. SLC) to protect access to safe, affordable, and medically-sound health care in Utah. We need you to show up and invite your friends. RSVP here! 

See the graphic for the rally at the end of this email.

Read on to find out what happened this week on the Hill.  

H.B. 467 - Abortion Changes  

A strong contender for worst bill of the session, H.B. 467 will stop licensing for abortion health centers and shift all abortions to hospitals. It will ban nearly all abortions and is a direct attack on the safe, private and compassionate care that Planned Parenthood provides. Not only does H.B. 467 restrict abortion access, but limiting care to hospitals will make this essential health care more expensive. On Friday afternoon, HB 467 passed the house with a 51-14 party line vote. The bill will get assigned to a Senate Committee and we will keep you posted on how to lobby the committee and participate in the hearing. 

CALL TO ACTION: Use this form to contact your Senator now and ask them to Vote NO on HB 467. 

 H.B. 415 - Maternal Coverage Amendments 

There are two good bills expanding coverage for doula (birth assistant) coverage in this year’s session. Last week we discussed SB 192, which adds doula services to the state’s Medicaid program. Today we’re highlighting HB 415 sponsored by Rep. Ashlee Matthews. Her bill would add doula services, plus coverage for a direct-entry midwife care and access to free-standing birth centers, to the public employee health insurance program. Earlier today it passed the House unanimously and now heads to the Senate.  

CALL TO ACTION: Contact your Senator and ask them to VOTE YES on H.B. 415.  

Be sure to check out our bill tracker that is updated daily. You can also take action with us weekly at our Digital Advocacy Nights happening on Wednesdays at 7pm.   

See you on Wednesday! 

In this together, 

PPAC Public Affairs Team

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