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2024 Legislative Report

The 2024 Legislative Session ended on March 1, 2024.

During 45 days of legislating, lawmakers introduced 933 bills, and passed 591 of them -- a new record.

Learn about the bills we tracked during the 2024 Utah Legislative Session. This tracker will be updated with additional information even after the session ends.

By the Numbers

A numerical recap of the 2024 Legislative Session...

Weekly Recaps

2024 Utah Legislative Session – Week 1 

Week one of the 2024 Legislative Session is (finally) done. 

At the Utah Capitol, in coalition meetings, and at events, our policy team is working hard to defend access to abortion and reproductive health care as well as support our allies and partners.

From the start, the Republican super-majority has fast-tracked bills that attack and diminish rights in DEI and transgender communities. 

Let us be clear to our friends and allies impacted by these bills: We see you. We hear you. And we are in this fight together.  

Here’s how you can resist these cruel bills and what might come next at the Legislature. 

You can find priority bills on our 2024 bill tracker. We update the tracker daily so you can stay informed during Utah’s fast-paced legislative session. To follow specific bills even more closely, check out our Fast Democracy public bill tracker.  

Now, let’s break down what you need to know about the first week of the session.  

Despite multiple calls for civility, a series of “culture war” bills copy and pasted from the national headlines have moved quickly through the House. 

H.B. 257 - Sex-based Designations for Privacy, Anti-bullying, and Women's Opportunities, sponsored by Rep. Kera Birkeland. (OPPOSE) 

  • Despite the complex title, HB 257 is a transgender bathroom ban. It would restrict the ability for trans people in Utah to use restrooms a basic need and human right in all publicly owned or funded locations or events, including sport facilities, locker rooms, schools, domestic violence shelters, and prisons. 
  • Update: On Friday, HB 257 passed the House in a 52-17 vote and now heads to the Senate. 

 

H.B. 261 - Equal Opportunity Initiatives, sponsored by Rep. Katy Hall. (OPPOSE) 

  • This bill prohibits diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices and efforts in Utah's K-12 schools, public universities, and local governments. Despite being pitched as promoting “academic freedom,the bill bans the words “diversity, equity, and inclusion” from being used at these institutions.  
  • Update: On Friday, HB 261 passed the House in a 58-14 vote and now heads to the Senate. 

 

Both H.B. 257 and H.B. 261 threaten the safety of our most marginalized communities.  

TAKE ACTION: Text, email, call or DM your state Senator and ask them to VOTE NO on HB 257 and HB 261. Find your senator at le.utah.gov.   

For more facts and details about HB 257 and HB 261, watch our Week 1 recap video 

 

Here are two important bills on the horizon: 

H.B. 92 - Voting Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Birkeland (OPPOSE) 

  • H.B. 92 would eliminate automatic vote-by-mail in Utah by requiring voters to check a box on the state election’s website to receive a mail-in ballot. Removing vote-by-mail is ludicrous when you consider there is zero evidence of voter fraud in Utah and over 90% of voters vote via mail.   

H.B. 193 - Medicaid Program Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Ward (SUPPORT)  

  • H.B. 193 would let thousands of low-income pregnant Utahns access health care coverage to ensure they receive affordable and consistent prenatal care. This is a pro-active bill we support because Utah currently ranks 49th in the nation in making Medicaid available to low-income pregnant women. 

It’s been a tough start, but we know our Hive will be there to defend the rights and access for all Utahns. Make sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more frequent updates and videos as we move through the Legislature.  

We'll be back next Friday with a recap of Week 2.  

In this together, 

PA Team 

2024 Utah Legislative Session - Week 2

First, let’s all take a moment to acknowledge how distressing this second week of the Utah Legislative Session has been for many in our Planned Parenthood community. 

It’s clear that the GOP majority is following the same gameplan as last year: Rushing through “culture war” bills targeting DEI efforts and transgender Utahns with the bare minimum of disclosure and public comment. It’s like the movie Groundhog Day, where lawmakers repeat the same tired attacks over and over. Check out PPAC's latest recap video to learn why this week has been "déjà vu all over again." 

 

On Friday, both the Utah House and Senate voted for final passage of revised versions of H.B. 261 (the anti-DEI bill) and H.B. 257 (the anti-transgender bathroom bill). These bills are now headed to the Governor’s desk. 

 

Today’s votes got dramatic when the House refused to accept the Senate’s last-minute changes to the transgender bathroom ban. After a hurried meeting between the two chambers, the bill was revised to ensure that students won’t be charged criminally for entering bathrooms that do not correspond with their gender-identity—a concern raised by Equality Utah. After that final change, a revised H.B. 257 passed the Senate and House before 1pm on Friday. 

 

If you are confused by this legislative whiplash, you aren’t alone. The key detail to know is that the final version of H.B. 257 bans transgender people from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity in government-owned facilities, along with explicitly blocking them from locker rooms in K-12 public schools.

 

TAKE ACTION: Ask Gov. Spencer Cox to veto both H.B. 261 and H.B. 257. These fear-mongering bills were rushed through the legislative process without a thorough understanding of their impacts on Utah’s schools, universities, and public institutions.

 

You can also fill out this form from the ACLU of Utah that includes a helpful email template that goes straight to Gov. Cox for H.B. 257 (the anti-transgender bathroom bill).

 

Here’s what else happened on Capitol Hill this week: 

 

H.B. 214 - Election Modifications (OPPOSE) 

On Monday, lawmakers blocked this bill—which would have prevented county clerks from accepting mail-in ballots arriving after 8 pm on Election Day—from moving forward in committee. Congrats to the Let Utah Vote coalition—including the ACLU of Utah, League of Women Voters, and the Rural Utah Project–who testified how this bill would add needless uncertainty to Utah’s popular and efficient vote-by-mail system. 

 

H.B. 29 - Sensitive Material Review Amendments (OPPOSE) 

On Tuesday, the House Education committee advanced this bill from Rep. Ken Ivory making it easier for districts to ban books from library shelves. If just three school districts ban the same book, this bill would force every school district in the state to remove it. And we know that many books challenged in Utah have LGBTQ+ themes or come from BIPOC authors.  

 

TAKE ACTION: Ask your House member to vote NO on H.B. 29 because a handful of school districts shouldn’t be able to ban books for every district in the state.  Find your representative at le.utah.gov.

 

Reproductive Rights 

We are ten days into the 2024 session and no bills banning abortion or targeting Planned Parenthood are public yet. But we remain vigilant for any attempts to block access to essential services like abortion care.  After all, Utah lawmakers have passed seven abortion restrictions in the past five years. 

 

Learn more about our priority bills at our 2024 bill trackerWe update this website daily so you can stay informed during our fast-paced legislative session. To track specific bills even more closely, check out our Fast Democracy public bill tracker.   

 

And of course, keep following us on social media @ppacutah as we expect more bills targeting our communities to appear in the coming weeks. If lawmakers go after your reproductive rights, you can trust us to activate our Hive to make our voices heard.  

 

Thank you for your continued support and check back next week for another recap of the latest news from the Legislative Session. 

In this together,

PPAC Utah Team

2024 Utah Legislative Sesssion - Week 3

Three weeks down. Four weeks to go.  

And no Pennsylvania rodent can make this year’s Legislative Session any shorter. 

Here is what happened this week on Capitol Hill. 

On Wednesday, Rep. Karianne Lisonbee—the sponsor of several recent anti-abortion bills—asked the Social Services Appropriation Committee to give $200,000 in taxpayer funds a year to Pregnancy Resource Center of Salt Lake.  

This is an anti-abortion organization that claims to help pregnant people, but instead often attempts to coerce, deceive, and manipulate them into carrying pregnancies to term. They are fake health clinics, and the opposite of Planned Parenthood Association of Utah’s eight health centers, where patients know they will receive compassionate, confidential, accurate advice from trained medical professionals. While the state has supported anti-abortion organizations in the past, they’ve never proposed this level of ongoing funding. We will watch this appropriation request as the session continues.

 

We are also supporting more effective investments to make pregnancy safer and more affordable like H.B. 193’s approach to expand Medicaid coverage for low-income families. This bill will have its first hearing in the House Business and Labor Committee on Monday afternoon.

 

TAKE ACTION: Contact members of the House Business and Labor Committee and urge them to support H.B. 193 Medicaid Program Amendments, which gives pregnant Utahns better access to health care coverage and prenatal care. Use this HB 193 Bill Explainer (PDF) to craft your talking points. 

On Tuesday evening, Gov. Spencer Cox signed into law H.B. 257 (the transgender bathroom ban) and H.B. 261 (the anti-DEI bill).  

And while the transgender bathroom ban goes into effect immediately, governmental entities will have until May 1 to comply. These new restrictions mean that public school students can only use bathrooms, locker rooms and changing spaces if they meet the legal definition of sex that corresponds with that space. The same limits apply to everyone using locker rooms, showers and dressing rooms in government buildings—which includes everything from county recreation centers to the SLC airport. Soon we will share a more detailed guide on how H.B. 257 impacts bathroom access in public places. 

It’s important to remember that this is the third year the legislature has passed laws targeting Utah’s transgender community.   

Also on Tuesday, the House passed Rep. Ken Ivory’s H.B. 29, a censorship bill making it easier for a handful of schools to ban books in every district across the state. But that’s not enough for Rep. Ivory, who also introduced H.B. 417, which exposes teachers, librarians, and other school employees to criminal charges if they are found to have banned books in their classroom. 

TAKE ACTION: Click on this link from the Let Utah Read coalition to tell your legislators to oppose H.B. 29 and H.B. 417 that abolish local control and criminalize teachers and librarians. You can also RSVP for Let Utah Read’s Ban Books “Read-In” at the Utah Capitol on February 22.

Learn more about PPAC’s priority bills at our 2024 bill tracker . We update this website daily with new bill explainers so you can stay informed during our fast-paced legislative session. To track specific bills even more closely, check out our Fast Democracy public bill tracker.    

And remember to follow us on social media @ppacutah, where we post weekly recap videos like this one from today. 

Next week marks the halfway point of the Legislative Session—and we will return with another recap of the latest news and developments. 

2024 Utah Legislative Session - Week 4

Week4

The 2024 Legislative Session is halfway done.

And this week we saw a rare bill introduced on Capitol Hill.

H.B 504 “Abortion Revisions” from Rep. Brian King (D-Salt Lake) would repeal dozens of current restrictions on abortion access in Utah.

Given that lawmakers have passed seven abortion bans or restrictions in the last five years, any bill that removes barriers instead of adding them is worth noting.

For years, politicians have passed laws denying people the freedom to make decisions about their bodies and futures. H.B. 504 rightly claims that the government should stay out of personal medical decisions that are better left to Utahns and their doctors.

But before you get your hopes up, you need to know that there is zero chance of H.B. 504 becoming law—let alone receiving a committee hearing. Instead, Rep. King is using this bill to send a message that there are too many abortions restrictions on the books in Utah.

Form a 72-hour waiting period, to a mandatory slideshow on fetal development, to a required education module that includes degrading and medically inaccurate information, Utah has more than a dozen separate retractions and requirements placing barriers in front of people seeking abortion healthcare.

And that’s not even counting the ban on abortions after 18-weeks of pregnancy.

Get informed by reviewing the complete list of restrictions (PDF)

Also this week, the House Business and Labor Committee passed a striped down version of Rep. Ray Ward’s H.B. 193. While the initial version of this bill would have given thousands of Utah families access Medicaid coverage during pregnancy, the version that passed the committee stripped away that coverage and only extended a hospital assessment that deposits $13 million a year in the Medicaid Expansion Fund. While this result is discouraging, it often takes several sessions of hard work by sponsors and advocates to pass any extension of Medicaid benefits.

Looking ahead to next week…

On Monday morning, the House Education Committee will hear H.B. 303 School Curriculum Requirements, from Rep. Jeff Stenquist. This bill is the latest iteration of Rep. Stenquist’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation from 2023 that now attempts to stop teachers and school officials from speaking authentically about any political or social issue.

TAKE ACTION: Contact members of the House Education Committee and urge them to oppose H.B. 303 School Curriculum Requirements because it over-regulates classroom discussions to create a chilling effect on First Amendment rights in schools. Use this HB 303 Bill Explainer (PDF) to craft your talking points. 

 

Next week we expect more legislation about abortion to be introduced, although the details are still unclear. We promise to stay vigilant and keep you posted. 

Earlier this week we added four bills to PPAC’s 2024 bill tracker. Learn more about priority legislation and dive deeper with our Bill Explainer PDFs. To track specific bills even more closely, check out our Fast Democracy public bill tracker.  

2024 Utah Legislative Session - Week 5

Week5

This fifth week of the Utah Legislative Session ended with another unusual bill. 

Rep. Karianne Lisonbee’s H.B. 560 repeals key aspects of the abortion Clinic Ban the Legislature passed last year. Why is an anti-abortion lawmaker trying to repeal her own ban? Because Republican lawmakers are so impatient to stop abortion in Utah, they are willing to repeal the Clinic Ban to focus their legal hopes on implementing the Trigger Ban, which the Utah Supreme Court is currently considering.

 

H.B. 560 is certain to pass this session. But it won’t change abortion access in Utah (still legal up to 18 weeks) because the Clinic Ban was blocked by a state court and never went into effect. And this bill won’t impact the Trigger Ban, which threatens to ban nearly all abortion access in Utah, but it is still blocked by the courts.

 

For more on this bill, watch our Breaking News video here.

Here’s what else happened this week: 

  • Despite calls for impeachment, Republican lawmakers introduced a resolution to censure Natalie Cline, a state school board member who cyber-bullied a student athlete last week. The resolution was approved by lawmakers and signed by the governor on Thursday night.
  • The House Business and Labor committee passed a stripped-down version of H.B. 193, a bill that originally expanded Medicaid coverage for pregnant Utahns. The revised H.B. 193 removed the Medicaid coverage, leaving only an extension of a hospital tax to fund Medicaid expansion.
  • Last week we urged you to oppose H.B. 303a bill censoring classroom speech. This week it barely passed the House Education Committee in a 6-5 vote. Several Republican lawmakers voted against H.B. 303—increasing the chances it can be defeated on the House floor next week.

TAKE ACTION: Contact your House member and urge them to oppose H.B. 303           because it removes any visible or verbal support for LGBTQ students in Utah’s schools. Use this HB 303 Bill Explainer (PDF) to craft your talking points.  


  • Despite strong opposition from Utah’s health care community, a House committee voted Thursday to advance H.B. 463, a bill that sabotages Utah’s Medicaid program. Advocates are still optimistic this bill can be amended or blocked.  
  • Finally, Utah’s popular vote-by-mail system appears safe for another year as both bills seeking to dismantle it have stalled this session.  

​​​​​​​Check out PPAC’s 2024 bill tracker to follow legislation and dive deeper with our one-page explainers.  

With just nine working days remaining in the 2024 Legislative Session, everything is going to happen faster. To stay current, follow our social media updates @ppacutah. ​​​​​​​

In this together...

PPAC Utah Team

2024 Utah Legislative Session - Week 6

week6

This year's Legislative Session is now 87% finished and just one week remains before lawmakers head home next Friday. 

Here is a recap of Week #6. 

After being introduced last Thursday, H.B. 560, a bill that repeals most of last year's abortion ban, passed a committee on Tuesday and the full House on Wednesday. This bill is moving quickly because leadership wants it to pass. 

You should know these facts about H.B. 560: 

  • It repeals the Clinic Ban, the abortion ban from 2023 that has been blocked by the courts and never went into effect. 
  •  
  • Nothing will change with abortion access in Utah if H.B. 560 passes — abortion will still be legal up to 18 weeks. 
  • Anti-abortion lawmakers are using H.B. 560 to focus their efforts on the Trigger Ban, a separate law which is also blocked by the courts and is awaiting a decision from the Utah Supreme Court. 
  • Planned Parenthood Action Council of Utah is neutral on H.B. 560 because we support the repeal of abortion bans — but want these repeals to be motivated by promoting bodily autonomy. 

Here are three more bills we are tracking – and you can also watch our weekly recap video. 

H.B. 29, which allows a handful of school districts to ban books from libraries across the state, whipsawed between the House and Senate this week as lawmakers reached a compromise to give the state school board authority to overturn these book bans. This final version overturned a Senate option that gave local school boards this authority. It now heads to the governor for his consideration.  

H.B. 303 has been paused in the House for several days because lawmakers are concerned it creates unenforceable limits on teachers’ ability to express political or social beliefs in classrooms, or display certain photos, images or flags. There’s a new version of the bill that removes several free speech restrictions, but it might not be enough to save it. 

We are watching H.B. 112 because a last-minute amendment to this sex education bill threatens CTE courses that prepare students for medical careers like nursing assistants. We support changes to this bill that will protect these and other important classes in Utah’s public schools. 

As we head into the final frenzied week of legislating, follow @ppacutah on social media, and check out our 2024 bill tracker for the latest updates. 

In this together,

PPAC Utah Team

2024 Utah Legislative Session - Week 7

week7

That’s a wrap. 

By midnight, the 2024 Legislative Session will end with lawmakers passing 500 new bills.

Here is an update on the bills that matter the most to us. 

On Friday, lawmakers gave final approval to HB 560, the bill that repeals key aspects of the Clinic Ban from 2023 that are currently blocked by a state court from going into effect. This bill now heads to the governor’s desk for his expected signature. 

Key Point: HB 560 doesn’t change access to abortion in Utah, which is currently legal up to 18 weeks. 

While we think repealing an abortion ban is good, we acknowledge Utahns deserve to live in a state that doesn’t play games with their fundamental rights. 

  

Learn more by watching PPAC’s Shireen Ghorbani’s powerful testimony at the Utah Senate earlier this week. 

 

Here are updates on three more bills we are tracking: 

In a moment of rare drama, the House defeated HB 303 in a close 39-32 vote on Monday. This bill would have placed unenforceable limits on teachers’ ability to express political or social beliefs—including support for LGBTQ students—and we’re glad to see it fail. 

Likewise, we applaud the Senate decision to halt attempts to make 60% the new vote threshold to approve ballot initiatives that raise taxes. While the higher threshold imposed by HB 284 and HJR 14 would have applied only to some initiatives, we view it as another attempt to block Utahns from controlling their own destiny.  

Finally, since we couldn’t stop the Republican majority from giving $400,000 of taxpayer funds this year—and every year—to Utah’s crisis pregnancy centers, we decided to show how ridiculous this idea is. In this viral “Is it Cake” video, Shireen Ghorbani compares the safe and reliable health services offered by Planned Parenthood Association of Utah with the unregulated fake clinics getting new taxpayer support. 

And if you want more legislative recaps, tune in next Thursday night to the League of Women Voters of Utah’s online forum, where PPAC’s Jason Stevenson will discuss how reproductive rights fared this session 

Thank you for following PPAC’s legislative coverage this year. Check out final updates at our Legislative Tracker, and stay tuned @ppacutah for the latest news on the issues you care about. 

In this together, 

PPAC Utah Team 

Week #7 Legislative Recap Videos

As the 2024 Legislative Session draws to a close, let’s reflect on the whirlwind of the last 45 days at Capitol Hill. Video 1

More details from the final week of the 2024 Legislative Session. Video 2

Bills We Support

H.B. 193 - Hospital Assessment Revisions Medicaid Program Amendments

H.B. 193 Hospital Assessment Revisions (REVISED)

H.B. 193 Medicaid Program Amendments

Sponsor: Rep. Ray Ward

Update: This bill is now revised to extent the hospital assessment for the Medicaid Expansion Fund until 2034. The pregnancy coverage option has been removed.

During the 2/5/24 House Business and Labor Committee hearing, Rep. Norm Thurston substituted the bill to remove the pregnancy coverage and keep only the extension of the hospital assessment. Despite this change, the committee still defeated the new, constricted bill in a 4-7 vote. As of 2/7/24, the new version of HB 193 as been added to the 2/8/24 agenda for the House Business and Labor Committee hearing. It is likely the bill will pass during this second attempt.

Initial Bill Overview: This bill would raise Medicaid coverage eligibility during pregnancy from up to 144% FPL (federal poverty level) to 185% FPL. This is equal to raising the annual income eligibility ceiling for a family of two from $28,397 to $36,482.

This increase would allow thousands more Utah families to access Medicaid coverage during pregnancy and bring Utah closer to the national median of income eligibility. This bill would also extend Medicaid coverage to pregnant and postpartum women who hold a permanent resident card and utilizes the Medicaid Expansion Fund’s Inpatient Hospital Assessment to fund the new coverage.

Fact Sheet: HB 193 Explainer

Position: Support.

Explanation:  After the passage of SB 133 (Modifications to Medicaid Coverage) during the 2023 Legislative Session (which extended coverage for Medicaid recipients after pregnancy from 60 days to 12 months) the next logical step in Utah was to increase Medicaid eligibility during pregnancy. This is the goal of HB 193.

HB 193 would raise the income ceiling to 185% FPL, or $36,482 of annual income for a family of two people. This increase would bring Utah closer to the national median of income levels for Medicaid coverage during pregnancy – which is currently 207% FPL.

HB193 would also extend to provide postpartum and pregnancy coverage for people with a permanent resident card. As of January 2023, 26 other states have extended Medicaid coverage to lawfully present immigrants. Extending Medicaid coverage to Utah’s immigrant community has been accomplished before.

A unique aspect of HB 193 is how it uses the Inpatient Hospital Assessment contribution to the Medicaid Expansion Fund to pay for this new coverage. This means the coverage cost will not come from the General Fund.

Status: Passed the Legislature

Location: To the Governor

 

S.B. 85 Medicaid Doula Services

S.B. 85 Medicaid Doula Services

Sponsor: Sen. Luz Escamilla

Update 3/1/24: This bill is not moving forward this session because it needs House sponsor. This is the second year Sen. Escamilla has run this bill.

Overview: This bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services (department) to apply for Medicaid state plan amendment authorizing coverage of doula services. In 2023, a similar bill from Sen. Escamilla passed the Senate but failed in the House despite a small fiscal note costing the General Fund approximately $75,000.

Fact Sheet: SB 85 Explainer (PDF)

Position: Support

Explanation: 

A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to their client before, during and shortly after childbirth. Doulas are typically not medically trained but can have medical experience. Doulas work alongside healthcare providers in medical settings and also in their client’s home.

Doulas can provide care during prenatal period, during labor and childbirth, and postpartum during the weeks after birth.

According to the National Health Law Program, as of January 2024, 13 states including Florida, Michigan, Nevada, and Oklahoma are actively reimbursing for doula services in Medicaid.

Medicaid state plan amendments can be designed to cover doula care as “preventive services” to make it easier to reimburse non-medical providers, including doulas, for services that are recommended by a licensed provider.

Talking Points:

  • Studies show that people who work with a doula during pregnancy and childbirth are less likely to deliver a pre-term or a low birthweight baby, less likely to have postpartum depression, and more likely to try breastfeeding.
  • Many disparities negatively impact pregnancy and birth outcomes for BIPOC, people with low incomes, and other marginalized identities. Black women are 3x to 4x more likely to die from pregnancy-related issues than white women. The CDC states that 80% of these deaths are preventable and studies show that doulas play a critical role in helping combat these disparities in pregnancy.
  • Medicaid covers 17% of all births in Utah.
  • We support S.B. 85 because people who receive Medicaid for their pregnancy should have access to doula care to reduce complications for Medicaid pregnancies and births.
  • In 2023, a similar bill from Sen. Escamilla (S.B.192) passed the Senate but failed to advance in the House.

Status:  This bill is not moving forward this session.

Location: House Rules Committee
 

H.B. 504 Abortion Revisions

support

H.B. 504 Abortion Revisions

Sponsor: Rep. Brian King (D-Salt Lake)

Overview:  H.B. 504 does the following:

  • Repeals H.B. 467's (Clinic Ban, 2023) sunset of licensure for abortion clinics.
  • Removes the 72-hour waiting period for abortion care.
  • Removes the physician credentialling requirement for abortion providers.
  • Deletes all aspects of the informed consent education module required by the state before an abortion can be performed.
  • Retains the current 18-week ban on abortion access and the enjoined "Trigger ban."

Fact Sheet: TBD

Position: We support H.B. 504

Status: Did not pass

Location: House Rules Committee

 

Bills We are Tracking

Video of PPAU’s Shireen Ghorbani’s powerful testimony at the Senate hearing for H.B. 560

We have said it once, and we will say it again: All Utahns deserve to live in a state where the government does not insert itself into the most privat

H.B. 560 Licensing Modifications

Title: H.B. 560 Licensing Modifications

Sponsor: Rep.Karianne Lisonbee (R-Clearfield)

Fact Sheet: HB 560 Bill Explainer (PDF)

Position: Neutral

Hearings: Watch PPAC’s Shireen Ghorbani’s testimony at the Senate Health and Human Services committee hearing on 2/26/24

Update: This bill passed the Senate in a 24-0 vote on 3/1/24 and now is going to the Governor for his consideration.

Explanation:  HB 560 repeals key aspects of the Clinic Ban from 2023 that are currently in litigation and blocked by state courts from going into effect. HB 560 does not repeal all aspects of the Clinic Ban, just the elements enjoined by the courts.

For example, the bill retains the Clinic Ban’s 18-week ceiling on abortions due to rape. HB 560 also keeps the improved language around abortion exceptions for threats to life/health of the mother and fetal anomalies.

If this new bill passes, as it likely will, nothing will change with access to abortion in Utah. This is because the ban it repeals -- the Clinic Ban -- never went into effect. The bill also doesn't change the narrow exceptions to Utah's abortion bans, which were revised to be slightly better last year thanks to input from doctors and hospitals.

In addition, despite claims by supporters of HB 560, passing this bill won’t have any impact on the Trigger Ban, which is still out there threatening to ban nearly all abortion access in Utah—but is still blocked by the courts.

Repealing an abortion ban is a good outcome for any Utah legislation.

However, the justification for this bill is not positive from a reproductive rights standpoint. Anti-abortion lawmakers aren't giving up on banning abortion in Utah. Instead, they are consolidating their efforts behind the Trigger Ban, a separate law which is also blocked by the courts and is awaiting a decision from the Utah Supreme Court. HB 560 is another attempt by anti-abortion lawmakers to influence the courts to reach a decision that will ban abortion access in Utah.
 

Background: There are two abortion bans currently blocked by state court injunctions in Utah.

First, is the Trigger Ban, which was passed in 2020 and has been barred from taking effect since 2022 in the aftermath of the Dobbs decision. We are currently waiting for the Utah Supreme Court to rule on the fate of the injunction blocking this ban.

The second is the Clinic Ban, passed last year. It is also blocked by a state court from going into effect.

While court injunctions against these bans remain in place, abortion is still legal in Utah up to 18 weeks.

But Republican lawmakers are so impatient to ban abortion in Utah, they want to pass HB 560 to repeal the Clinic Ban so they can focus their legal hopes on implementing the Trigger Ban, which the Utah Supreme Court is currently considering.

Status: Passed the Legislature

Location: To the Governor

Bills We Oppose

H.B. 92 Voting Amendments

H.B. 92 Voting Amendments

Sponsor: Rep. Kera Birkeland Rep. Mark Strong

Overview:

Update 2/29/24: This bill is not moving forward this session.

Update 2/14/24: This bill has a proposed substitute that allow county clerks to label a voter "in-active" and stop sending mail-in ballots to those voters who fail to return a ballot for at least one election held during the two-year period. The bill was also re-assigned to Rep. Mark Strong.

The original version of this bill would eliminate automatic vote-by-mail in Utah. It would require voters to check a box on the state election’s website or when they register to vote in order to receive a mail-in ballot. It would take effect for elections after 2025.

Fact sheet: TBA

Position: Oppose

Explanation: We oppose H.B. 92 because we believe that states should be making voting easier, not harder, for more residents. Voter fraud is non-existent in Utah. It is not a realistic justification for ending vote-by-mail. Utahns support vote-by-mail and are confident in its security. A 2022 statewide poll by the Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics found that 89% of Utahns are confident — including 46% who stated they are very confident — that counties in Utah will conduct secure and accurate elections using vote-by-mail. Rep. Birkeland said voting should be a privilege and that people should actively participate in the process by voting in-person. We believe that voting is a fundamental right and that governments should making voting as accessible as possible for all those who are eligible. Note: Rep. Birkeland also introduced this bill late in the 2023 session where it never received a hearing.

Status: Did not pass

Location: House Rules Committee

H.B. 59 Federal Funds Contingency Planning

H.B. 59 Federal Funds Contingency Planning

Sponsor: Rep. Ken Ivory

Overview: This bill requires additional reporting for agencies/programs requesting or reauthorizing use of federal funds like Medicaid. It removes exemptions from agencies and programs previously exempt from current federal funding planning and reporting requirements.

Fact sheet: TBA

Position: Oppose

Explanation: We oppose H.B. 59 because it creates unnecessary and onerous paperwork requirements for state agencies engaged in managing Medicaid programs. This bill would mandate any programs requesting or reauthorizing use of federal funds to produce at least three additional reports/forecasts. The goal of this bill is to promote reduce confidence in federal funding and reduce support for vital healthcare programs like Medicaid and CHIP. The three new reports are 1) “Contingency Analysis and Plan”; 2) “State Sovereignty Evaluation" and 3) "Federal Funds Contingency Plan." The third report would only apply to an agency whose budget consists of more than 33% federal funds. It is very likely that Medicaid is the only agency in Utah that hits this threshold. Imposes a specific deadline for “high impact fund request for Medicaid or CHIP” for reports #1 and #2.

Status: Passed the Legislature

Location: To the Governor

H.B. 261 Equal Opportunity Initiatives

H.B. 261 Equal Opportunity Initiatives

Sponsor: Rep. Katy Hall

Overview: This bill prohibits diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE) offices and efforts in Utah's K-12 schools, public universities, and local governments and creates restrictive boundaries on speech, words, and actions at educational institutions. 

Fact Sheet: TBD

Position: Oppose

Explanation:  HB 261 will:

  • Ban DEI offices at educational institutions and local governments
  • Prevent the use of the words "diversity" "equity" "inclusiveness" or "DEI" in any office or title
  • Eliminate trainings on “discriminatory practices” and ban hiring questions about diversity and inclusion
  • Jeopardize college scholarships designated for Native American students
  • Prevent schools from focusing resources based on on “personal identity characteristics” such as race or gender

Status: Signed by the Governor

Location: Governor's office

H.B. 257 Sex-based Designations for Privacy, Anti-bullying, and Women's Opportunities

H.B. 257 Sex-based Designations for Privacy, Anti-bullying, and Women's Opportunities

Sponsor:  Rep. Kera Birkeland

Overview: Despite the long title, this bill is a transgender bathroom ban. And despite being amended many times, this bill is still a transgender bathroom ban.

This bill restricts the  ability for trans people to use restrooms, a basic  need and human right. It would impact all publicly owned or funded locations or events, including sport facilities, locker rooms, schools, domestic violence shelters, prisons, and more. This bill dangerously and incorrectly blames sexual violence on the transgender community--who are most often the victims of violence, not the perpetrators. It would encourage people to police gender identities in public bathrooms, leading to more fear, discrimination, and conflict. 
Because HB 257 requires discrimination based on gender identity, this bill also threatens tens of millions of dollars in federal funding for state and local governments, as well as domestic violence shelters.

Fact Sheet: TBD

Position: Oppose

Explanation:  H.B. 257 will:

  • Ban transgender people from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity in government-owned facilities, along with explicitly blocking them from locker rooms in K-12 public schools.  
  • Reinforce stigmas against the transgender community that are not factually based about the behavior in bathrooms and changing rooms.  
  • Place transgender Utahns at risk when they seek to use public bathrooms.
  • Invite discrimination against all Utahns by establishing a legal system that enables the public to police traits associated with femininity versus masculinity.
  • Threaten federal funding worth tens of millions of dollars for domestic violence shelters, as well as state and local governmental entities like the SLC Airport and sports facilities. 

  • Increase conflict in public restrooms by encouraging people to police the gender identities of the people around them--creating a cloud of fear and suspicion

Status: Signed by the Governor

Location: Governor's office

H.B. 29 Sensitive Material Amendments

H.B. 29 Sensitive Material Review Amendments

Sponsor: Rep.Ken Ivory

Overview: H.B. 29 would:

  • Define two categories instructional materials that can be investigated and removed from Utah’s public schools:
    • Objective sensitive materials: Instructional materials deemed so pornographic or indecent that they violate the “bright line” rule as defined in Utah code 76-10-1227. This is the worst category.
    • Subjective sensitive materials: Instructional materials deemed pornographic or indecent that do not violate the “bright line” rule but are deemed to have no serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. This is the less-worse category.
    • Allow a handful of school districts to remove a book and force all school districts in the state to ban the same materials from libraries and classrooms.

Fact Sheet: H.B. 29 Bill Explainer (PDF)

Position: We oppose H.B. 29

Explanation:  

2/23/24 Update: During the sixth week of the Legislative Session, H.B. 29 whipsawed between the House and Senate as lawmakers reached a compromise to give the Utah State Board of Education authority to overturn these book bans. This final version overturned a prior Senate option that gave local school boards this authority. As passed the Legislature, if three school districts, or two school districts and five charter schools remove a book based on this law's critera, the state school board would need to vote on retaining the book within 60 days or it would be permanently banned from all school districts.


 

H.B. 29 is the second bill proposed by Rep. Ivory dealing with “sensitive materials” in three years. His first bill, H.B. 374 from 2022, required school districts to set up committees of parents and staff to review challenged books and follow guidance from the Utah Attorney General’s office. But when legislative committee hearings held during the summer of 2023 informed Rep. Ivory that several Utah school districts were not following his vision of the initial bill, he decided more legislation was required.  Additionally, the high-profile example of the Bible being challenged in the Davis School District highlighted how Ivory’s initial system could be hijacked with embarrassing results.  

As a result, Rep. Ivory proposed the new book banning process outlined in H.B. 29 that reduces opportunities for school districts and review committees to slow down the review process or retain books on library shelves. This new bill establishes a step-by-step process that ensures that most challenged books will be temporary or permanently removed from student access. H.B. 29 also allows the book banning decisions by a handful of school districts to remove books in all districts across the state—removing local control and accountability.

Talking Points:  

 

  • H.B. 29 is a solution looking for a problem. Since the passage of H.B. 374 in 2022, over 262 books have been removed across 17 school districts in Utah. The problem isn’t that too few books have been banned—but that removing books from school libraries is already too easy.
  • Lawmakers use the term “criminal porn” to make it seem like the books being removed have no redeeming value. Instead, books already banned in Utah deal with serious issues such as sex trafficking (“Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins) and rape (“The Bluest Eye” by Nobel-prize winning author, Toni Morrison).
  • The majority of books removed from Utah schools address racial or LGBTQ themes, and many are written by people of color. Just because some parents don’t want their children exposed to diverse authors and topics does not give them the right to deny these perspectives to everyone else.
  • H.B. 29 requires school districts to remove materials from student access after a preliminary review, a step that denies students access to essential educational content without due process.
  • The vast majority of book challenges are being pushed by a small group of people. As of December 2022, of the 205 book challenges filed in the Granite School District, one couple instigated 199 of them.
  • By allowing individuals to challenge instructional materials, this bill gives a small group of people veto power over lessons and curriculum for the entire district. We should not allow book banners to exercise power over every child’s education.
  • H.B. 29 overrides the authority of local school boards by allowing a small number of school districts or charter schools to ban books in every district across the state. This measure prevents local schools from selecting the books and materials that are best suited for their students and community. 

Status: Passed the Legislature

Location: To the Governor

H.B. 303 School Curriculum Requirements

oppose

H.B. 303 -School Curriculum Requirements
Sponsor: Jeff Stenquist (R-Sandy)

Overview: H.B. 303 would:

  • Expand restrictions on school employees from endorsing or disparaging a religious viewpoint to include symbols, images, or language related to the following topics:
    • political or social belief or viewpoints
    • sexual orientation or gender identity
  • Add new restrictions to prevent school employees from encouraging students to reconsider or change their viewpoints on the following topics:
    • religious, denominational, sectarian, agnostic, or atheistic beliefs
    • political or social belief or viewpoint
    • sexual orientation or gender identity

Fact Sheet: H.B. 303 Bill Explainer (PDF)

Position: We oppose H.B. 303

Background:  

3/1/24 Update: Some lawmakers did not want to see HB303 defeated. On the last day of the session, Sen. Dan McCay, the sponsor of 2020’s “Trigger Ban,” attempted to hijack HB477 and replace the title and text with entirely new language that would have specifically banned Pride flags from Utah’s public schools. His effort failed when Senators voted down the hijacked bill 20-9. 

But then 20 minutes before midnight on Friday, Sen. Don Ipson attempted to “reconsider” that hijacked bill. Fortunately, enough Senators opposed this effort and the motion failed. This is more evidence that you can’t take your eyes of the Legislature—even for a minute. KSL TV’s Lindsay Aerts reported in these dramatic events on her Twitter account here.

2/26/24 Update: In a moment of rare drama, the House defeated H.B. 303in a close 39-32 vote on Monday, 2/26/24. This bill would have placed unenforceable limits on teachers’ ability to express political or social beliefs—including support for LGBTQ students—and we’re glad to see it fail. Watch the intense H.B. 303 vote unfold at this video clip (link).

2/23/24 Update: H.B. 303 has been paused in the House for several days because lawmakers are concerned it creates unenforceable limits on teachers’ ability to express political or social beliefs in classrooms, or display certain photos, images or flags. There’s a new version of the bill that removes several free speech restrictions, but it might not be enough to save it. 


In 2023, Rep. Stenquist introduced a bill (H.B. 550) that was modeled after the “Don’t Say Gay” bill from Florida.  H.B. 550 would have banned discussions of sexuality, sexual orientation, and gender identity in grade K-3 classrooms. It was immediately challenged by Equality Utah and other groups due to its singular exclusion of LGBTQ topics from the classroom. After Rep. Stenquist amended the bill to remove mentions of sexual orientation and gender identity, it failed to advance during the 2023 session.

H. B. 303, introduced in 2024 as “School Curriculum Requirements,” retains the prohibition of discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity by school employees. But it expands this prohibition to all K-12 grades and prevents the display of symbols or images in schools on social, political, or religious topics. While the bill includes exceptions for religious clothing, family photos, and flags or symbols related to relevant curriculum, it could create a serious chilling effect on school officials worried their comments or responses to students could be considered an endorsement or disparagement of one of the prohibited topics.

When a version of this bill was discussed at the November 2023 Education Interim Committee meeting, lawmakers and members of the public identified many scenarios where this bill would fail to distinguish between political speech and personal belief. For example, Sen. Lincoln Fillmore (see QR code above for video) questioned if a teacher could display a Ukrainian flag on their desk if he was Ukrainian. But could he display the same flag, Sen. Fillmore asked, if he served an LDS mission in Ukraine? What about an Israeli flag? All of these examples raised the difficult question of when does personal identity or belief cross over into political speech?  These comments made it clear that school districts would face significant challenges in writing guidelines to enforce the subjective requirements of this bill. After public comment, the committee voted not to advance the bill. However, Rep. Stenquist still introduced the bill in the 2024 session.

 

Talking Points:

  • This bill forces teachers to police their speech when students raise questions related to political and social issues that commonly occur in classroom situations. Teachers will feel like they need to consult an attorney before responding to questions from students.
  • For example, if a student is being bullied on the playground because of their religious beliefs or having two moms or two dads, this bill would prevent a teacher from effectively being able to comfort and reassure the distressed student—removing a crucial way for educators to make schools safe places to learn.
  • By excluding “symbols” as well as images and language, this will would prohibit the display of Pride flags and other symbols of safe spaces for LGBTQ students in Utah public schools.
  • This bill is trying to over-regulate classroom discussions by creating a minefield of topics and responses that scare teachers away from saying anything.
  • Let’s be clear: The motivation of this bill is to remove any acknowledgement and support for LGBTQ students in Utah’s public schools.  
  • The confusing approach taken by this bill could allow the same symbol—for example, a Ukrainian flag—to be considered both a personal symbol and a political viewpoint—with the difference between the two very had to determine by a local school district.
  • It is impossible for legislation to anticipate and resolve all the scenarios involving classroom speech and symbols that would be called into question by this approach. By taking this over-regulated approach, this bill will create more problems and challenges than currently exist.

Status: Did not pass

Location: House Rules Committee

H.B. 463 Medicaid Funding Amendments

oppose

H.B. 463 Medicaid Funding Amendments

Sponsor: Rep. Brady Brammer (R-Pleasant Grove)

Summary:  

 Update 2/29/24: H.B. 463 is not moving forward during the 2024 Legislative Session thanks to intense and successful lobbying by advocates.

Update 2/18/24: This bill has two substitutes proposed that change many aspects of the original bill file. Howewver, the fact remains that HB 463 manufactures a fiscal crisis for Utah Medicaid where none exists.

The original version of H.B. 463 requires the state Medicaid program to take “cost control measures” in the event of an ill-defined Medicaid
financial shortfall. These suggested measures include: cancelling coverage for many enrollees, closing enrollment to new members, and other efforts that threaten administrative/provider finances. In short, HB 463 outlines a "waterfall" of serious Medicaid cuts and restrictions that the Legislature can implement if Utah enters a so-called "Medicaid shortfall." Not surprisingly, the bill defines a Medicaid shortfall in unrealistic terms that make it almost certain to occur. 

Overview:

H.B. 463 establishes the following conditions in which a Medicaid shortfall can occur.

1. The state’s FMAP decreases by more than one percentage point in a one year period, or three percentage points within a three year period
2. The LFA projects that state expenditures for the Medicaid program exceed the amount of funds appropriated to the program
3. Revenue estimates adopted by the EAC are insufficient to pay the ongoing appropriations for the Medicaid program in any fiscal year, or,
4. An operating deficit


If any of the above conditions are met, within 45 days:
• The Legislature must meet and appropriate enough funds to cover the shortfall
• EAC must adopt revised revenue estimates that are sufficient to pay the ongoing appropriations for the fiscal year
If the above actions are not taken, the Medicaid program must take the following “cost control measures” in the following order, one at a time, until all costs are covered:
• Freeze Medicaid hiring and salary increases
• Suspend increasing provider reimbursement rates
• Suspend expanding reimbursement benefits, including drug reimbursement
• Cancel coverage for any optional services or populations covered under the program
• Roll back provider reimbursement increases made within the last year
• Close enrollment to new members

Fact Sheet:  

Position: We oppose H.B. 463

Background: First discussed during the fall of 2023 during Interim Health Health and Human Services committee hearings, Rep. Brammer's H.B. 463 suddenly appeared on Friday, 2/2.24. Advocates were even more surprised when it was added to the House Business and Labor committee hearing for the following Monday, 2/5/24. Rapid and widespread intervention by advocates, lawmakers, and many others forced Rep. Brammer to pull HB 463 from Monday's House Business and Labor Committee hearing. The bill is now going through the normal procedure of being assigned to a committee.

Talking Points:

H.B. 463 Bill Explainer (AUCH)

H.B. 463 Bill Explainer (UHPP)

H.B. 463 harms Utah families

  • The bill, if passed, would disrupt coverage of medically-necessary services for individual with conditions including diabetes, behavioral health concerns, ext. and those requiring home and community-based health services
  • The bill unwinds Utah’s voter-approved Medicaid expansion and attacks the heart of the services provided by the legacy Medicaid program

H.B. 463 is not sound policy

  • Fiscal: the bill would reduce the amount of Utah federal tax dollars coming back to the state, and the decreased coverage would direct those who have lost coverage to expensive and inappropriate care settings like Emergency Departments.
  • Administrative: the bill would place extraordinary burdens on Medicaid administration. As a consequence, individuals would face greater wait times, confusion around coverage status, and conflicting messages for Utahns who need the program.
  • H.B. 463 would undo decades of essential Medicaid legislative work. Utahns have worked extensively to build a Medicaid program that serves the state’s specific needs with particular expansions to include more populations/services including more robust behavioral, dental, maternal, and rural health care services—these could be cut rapidly.
  • Taking away these life-saving services would send a threatening message to constituents that calls into question Utah’s commitment to support families and care for its communities 

Status: Did not pass

Location: House Rules Committee

H.B. 417 School Materials Amendments

oppose

H.B. 417 School Materials Amendments

Sponsor: Rep. Ken Ivory (R--West Jordan)

Overview: H.B. 417 would:

  • Require school districts to select the least sexualized, violent, and vulgar content when reviewing and selecting instructional materials;
  • Require school districts to inform parents of sensitive materials that students can access;
  • Require school districts to inform parents when students check out sensitive materials;
  • Prevents school boards from stopping people from displaying or reciting sensitive materials at public meetings if the material is available to students;
  • Allows people to file lawsuits against school districts that provide student access to sensitive materials;
  • Removes governmental immunity from school employees for violating restrictions on sensitive materials;
  • Allows school employees to be charged with a Class A misdemeanor for violating restrictions on sensitive materials;

Fact Sheet: H.B. 417 Explainer (PDF)

Position: We opppose H.B. 417

Background: This bill is a continuation of Rep. Ivory’s campaign against what he calls pornography in Utah’s public schools. Already in the 2024 session, Rep. Ivory has introduced H.B. 29 (Sensitive Material Review Amendments) to make it easier for people to challenge and remove books from public school libraries. After librarians, the ACLU of Utah, and teacher unions spoke out against H.B. 29 at a House Education Committee hearing on January 23, 2024, Rep. Ivory released this bill which directly targets teachers and librarians with criminal prosecution for allowing sensitive materials to be in their classroom or library. In addition, this bill blocks school boards from preventing people from reading aloud sections of books at public meetings. Interestingly, lawmakers (including the committee chair) tried to block Rep. Ivory from reading a passage from a banned book at the January committee hearing. The vindictive nature of H.B. 417 is clear based on the elements he included in this bill.

 

Talking Points:

  • By requiring instructional material to be the “least sexualized, violent, and vulgar,” this bill sets an impossible standard that will remove long-standing and effective books, lessons, and content from the curriculum.
  • This bill creates a significant administrative burden on school districts to publish lists of all
  • This bill puts librarians, teachers, and school board members in legal jeopardy for attempting to follow the complex book banning rules that Rep. Ivory has established.
  • This bill inflames the war on teachers and librarians by exposing them to intimidation, harassment, and prosecution for doing their jobs.
  • This bill requires teachers to inform parents of books and materials that their children are checking out of the library—eroding trust and privacy between teachers and students.

Status: Did not pass

Location: House Rules Committee

Appropriation: State Funding for Utah's Crisis Pregnancy Centers
 

oppose

Title: Appropriations: State Funding for Utah's Crisis Pregnancy Centers

Sponsor: Rep. Karianne Lisonbee

Overview: 

Update: 3/4/24: Since PPAC couldn’t stop the Republican majority from giving taxpayer funds this year—and every year—to Utah’s crisis pregnancy centers, PPAU decided to show how ridiculous this idea is. In this viral “Is it Cake” video, Shireen Ghorbani compares the safe and reliable health services offered by Planned Parenthood Association of Utah with the unregulated fake clinics getting new taxpayer support. 

3/1/24 Update: All three of these appropriations requests were approved and funded during the 2024 Legislative Session.

Crisis Pregnancy Centers are anti-abortion organizations that claim to help pregnant people, but instead often attempt to coerce, deceive, and manipulate them into carrying pregnancies to term. The organization seeking this funding is Pregnancy Resource Centers of Salt Lake, Inc., which operates two facilities, one in Salt Lake City, and the second in American Fork. The non-profit selected for state funding is Pro-Life Utah, which is an anti-abortion advocacy group.

The direct funding is being proposed by Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, a member of the House Majority Leadership team. As a result, these funding requests are ranked in top positions on the Ongoing Funding Request Priority List.

Additional funding is also proposed as part of SB 147 (Adoption Revisions) which allocates $245,000 in state grants to organizations providing “pregnancy support services," which means services that “encourage childbirth instead of voluntary termination of pregnancy

Fact Sheet:  State Funds for Crisis Pregnancy Centers (PDF)

Position: Oppose

Explanation: 

Funding Totals:

$200,000 - Prolife Utah Support Life Program

$130,000 - Utah Pregnancy Resource Center Support Life Program

$245,000 - Grants for pregnancy support services (SB 147)

-------------

$575,000 - total state funds allocated for FY24-25

Status: Requested from Social Services Appropriations Committee, Ranked #15 and #16

Location: Executive Appropriations Committee

Summary of Funding:

Executive Appropriations List - Ongoing Funding Request Priority List    

#16. (DHHS) Prolife Utah Support Life Program - $200,000

#17. (DHHS) Utah Pregnancy Resource Center Support Life Program - $130,000

 

Prolife Utah Support Life Program

$200,000 ongoing (FY24-25)

-Requested By: Rep. Lisonbee

---

Funding granted to a nonprofit organization in Utah, to establish a program to enhance and increase resources that promote childbirth instead of abortion to women facing unplanned pregnancies and to offer services, including pregnancy support services, parenting help, and adoption assistance; Provided further, That the Program shall include only the following services: Counseling or mentoring intended to improve the pregnancy or parenting situation, including care coordination for prenatal services, providing educational materials and information about pregnancy and parenting; Expense reimbursements for financial support given to the client in the form of emergency housing, temporary housing, basic utilities, medical care given at hospitals or clinics, and emergency transport; Referrals intended to improve the pregnancy or parenting situation, including referrals to county and social service programs, referrals for child care, transportation, housing and state and federal benefit programs, and referrals that connect clients to health programs; Material items intended to improve the pregnancy or parenting situation including, but not limited to, car seats, cribs, maternity clothes, infant diapers and formula;

 

Utah Pregnancy Resource Center Support Life Program

$130,000 ongoing FY24-25

-Requested By: Rep. Lisonbee

---

Funding to be granted to Pregnancy Resource Center of Salt Lake, Inc. (nonprofit organization in Utah) to establish a program to enhance and increase resources that promote childbirth instead of abortion to women facing unplanned pregnancies and to offer services, including pregnancy support services, parenting help, and adoption assistance.

 

SB 147 (Adoption Revisions)

$245,000 ongoing FY24-25

-Requested By: Sen. Wilson

https://le.utah.gov/~2024/bills/static/SB0147.html

---

Allocation of $245,000 in state grants to organizations providing “pregnancy support services," which means services that “encourage childbirth instead of voluntary termination of pregnancy.”
 

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