We are in the home stretch! Just one more week of the 2021 Legislative Session to go. Here’s your week 6 update with some rapid-fire info about many of the bills we’ve been following, and there’s reason to celebrate! Keep following our bill tracker, as there will be lots of action this week.
Today, Representative Acton pulled HB 231 Fetus Transport Restrictions from the committee agenda and will not be pursuing the bill this session! Thank you to everyone who contacted lawmakers and voiced your opposition to this harmful legislation! It takes a movement to protect health care access in Utah. This bill was a clear attempt to disrupt health care providers ability to provide abortion care. It would have had far reaching consequences for Utahns seeking abortion and miscarriage management and providers ability to care for these patients.
With just a week left in the session, we also do not expect to see Representative Christiansen’s horrible HB 253 make it out of the Rules committee. Phew!
Other good news:
HJR 13 Joint Resolution Declaring Racism a Moral and Public Health Crisis (Sponsor: Rep. Sandra Hollins) unanimously passed the House HHS committee after a terrific presentation and is circled and awaiting a floor vote in the House. TAKE ACTION: Contact your representative and ask them to VOTE YES on HJR 13.
HB 102 Contraception for Inmates (Sponsors: Rep. Jen Dailey-Provost, Sen. Luz Escamilla) is still tabled on the 3rd Reading Calendar in the Senate, and we hope to see it pass its final vote in the coming days. TAKE ACTION: Contact your senator and ask them to VOTE YES on HB 102 to provide contraception to Utah jail inmates.
SB 128 Family Planning Services Amendments (Sponsors: Sen. Derek Kitchen, Rep. Melissa Ballard) passed the House Health & Human Services committee and is awaiting a final vote in the House. TAKE ACTION: Contact your representative and ask them to VOTE YES on SB 128 to expand contraception access to low-income Utahns in the coverage gap.
SB 229 Healthy Lifestyles Amendments (Sponsor: Sen. Kathleen Riebe) will be heard in the Senate Health & Human Services Committee on Monday. This bill improves the health education curriculum allowed in public schools. TAKE ACTION: Contact members of the Senate HHS committee and ask them to VOTE YES on SB 229.
And in case you missed it, the harmful anti-trans youth bill, HB 302 Preserving Sports for Female Students, died in committee this week!
This has been a jam-packed session in a very strange year, and we are so grateful to all of you for speaking up and showing up for reproductive freedom in Utah. Keep an eye on our bill tracker this week for the day-to-day updates!
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