2018 Legislative Tracker
Last Updated February 12, 2018
| Bill # | Title | Summary/Description | Sponsor | UWC Position | Status | Votes | Impact on Utah women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB12 | Family Planning Services | This bill provides family planning services through Medicaid for women who fall in the coverage gap. For women who are already covered by Medicaid, it would also ensure that contraceptive services are provided more immediately after giving birth rather than requiring an additinoal visit for their healthcare provider. | Rep. Ward | Priority support | Passed Senate committee hearing 2/2 | House: 53-21-1 | This bill allows low-income women to take responsibility for their healthcare needs, plan for the future, and make sure they are able to financially support their growing family. |
| HB30 | UALD Amendments | This bill addresses program issues with UALD, identified in a 2017 performance audit conducted by the Legislative Auditor General. | Rep. Dunnigan | Priority support | Enrolled | House: 70-1-4 Senate: 24-0-5 | This bill works to improve the function and operations of UALD, ensuring workers with valid employment discrimination complaints have a fair shot of remedy and resolution. |
| HB57 | Utah Intergenerational Poverty Work and Self-sufficiency Tax Credit | This bill strengthens Utah's Intergeneration Poverity (IGP) initiative with a state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for IGP families who work, qualify for the federal EITC, and file their state taxes. Families would receive 10% of the federal EITC: ~250 on average, up to ~600, depending on income and number of children. | Rep. Westwood Sen. Vickers | Priority support | Awaiting Senate committee hearing | House: 41-32-2 | This bill supports IGP women and families in their progress toward financial stability and independence by allowing working families to keep more of what they earn, encouraging them to stay in the workforce, and reducing dependence on government programs. |
| HB117 | Hourly Wage Increase Amendments | This bill increases Utah's minimum wage by implementing an immediate increase to $10.25 per hour, and working toward a more gradual raise of $12 by 2022. | Rep. Hemingway | Priority support | Awaiting House Business and Labor Committee hearing | This bill ensures Utah workers earn a living wage to meet basic needs and provide for their families. | |
| HB118 | Cash Wage Obligation Minimum for Tipped Employees | This bill increases the minimum wage for tipper workers to $3.25 per hour. | Rep. Hemingway | Priority support | Awaiting House Business and Labor Committee hearing | This bill promotes the economic security of families who are striving to put food on the table, pay for safe and reliable housing, and meet other necessary costs by working in jobs on the lower end of the wage scale. | |
| HB148 | Food Tax Revisions | This bill eliminates the 1.75% state sales tax on food and brings it to 0. In order to cover the revenue lost, the state sales tax would increase by .24%. | Rep. Quinn | Priority support | Passed House committee 2/7; awaiting full House vote | This bill would eliminate the state sales food tax, removing a financial roadblock for women and families to meet basic needs and pursue other economic opportunities. | |
| HB156 | Paid Parental Leave (State Agencies) | This bill provides six weeks of paid parental leave (at 66% of an employee's pay) for full- and part-time executive agency state employees. | Rep. Weight | Priority support | Awaiting House committee hearing | This bill provides new parents with the ability to care for and bond with their child at a critical time, and biological mothers with the ability to adequately recover following childbirth, without the financial stress accompanied by lost earnings. | |
| HB196 | Breastfeeding Protection Act | This bill clarifies that discrimination based on 'sex' includes pregnancy and breastfeeding for purposes of Utah's anti-discrimination in places of public accommodation law | Rep. Fawson | Priority support | Passed House committee 2/8; awaiting full House vote | This bill ensures that women who are pregnant or nursing have equal access to Utah businesses and other establishments. | |
| HB278 | Paid Family and Medical Leave Amendments | This bill would create a tax credit for businesses that offer paid family and medical leave to employees. | Rep. Edwards | Priority support | In Rules | This bill supports continued employment and income for workers when they need to take limited time off to attend to specific family or health-related responsibilities. | |
| HB283 | Workplace Protection Amendments | This bill seeks to prohibit workplace discrimination in small businesses by lowering the employee threshold which triggers employer compliance with anti-discrimination & labor laws (reducing the current number from 15 employees to 1). The bill also creates legal remedies for employees of small employers who violate the provisions of the act. | Rep. Edwards | Priority support | In Rules | The bill removes barriers to fairness and creates equal access to Utah laws, ensuring that all Utah workers are treated with equity on the job. | |
| SB47 | Medicaid Expansion Amendments | This bill requires the Department of Health to amend the state Medicaid plan to expand Medicaid eligibility to the optional populations under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. | Sen. Davis | Priority support | In Rules | ||
| SB 152 | Equal Compensation Study | This bill requires the Utah Department of Human Rresource Management to provide data related to gender-based wages in the state of Utah government to a third party institution to analyze and create a study. | Sen. Escamilla | Priority support | Awaiting Senate committee hearing | This bill ensures that wages paid to women employed within state agencies are objective, unbiased, and unaffected by an employee's gender. | |
| SJR 9 | Joint Resolution Ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution | This joint resolution of the Legislature ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution. | Sen. Bramble | Priority support | In Rules | ||
| HB34 | State Employee Leave Policy Amendments | This bill broadens the scope of paid leave that is available to state employees for certain disaster relief services. | Rep. Thurston Sen. Dayton | Following | Enrolled | House: 72-0-3 Senate: 27-0-2 | |
| HB41 | Mental Health Crisis Line Amendments | This bill makes improvements to the operation of the statewide mental health crisis line and local mental health crisis lines. | Rep. Eliason Sen. Thatcher | Support | Passed Senate committee 2/1; awaiting full Senate vote | House: 73-0-2 | |
| HB42 | Medicaid Waiver for Mental Health Crisis Services | This bill requires the Department of Health to seek a Medicaid waiver for certain mental health crisis resources. | Rep. Eliason Sen. Thatcher | Support | Passed Senate committee 2/1; awaiting full Senate vote | House: 72-0-3 | |
| HB44 | Child Support Guidelines Amendments | This bill makes the Child Support Guidelines Advisory Committee an ongoing advisory committee, and addresses procedures of the advisory committee. | Rep. McKell Sen. Weiler | Following | Enrolled | House: 68-0-7 Senate: 25-0-4 | |
| HB63 | Cosmetology and Associated Professions Amendments | This bill allows the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing to offer required examinations for cosmetology and related professions in languages in addition to English. | Rep. Kwan | Support | Awaiting Senate committee hearing | House: 71-0-4 | This bill grants English language learners the ability to pursue professional licensing regardless of their English proficiency. |
| HB67 | Voter Registration Amendments | This bill provides that an individual who applies for or renews the individual's driver license or state identification card will be registered to vote unless the individual opts out. | Rep. Handy | Support | Awaiting House committee hearing | This bill removes barriers to the polls and facilitates improved voter turnout, ensuring all Utahns have a voice at the polls. | |
| HB99 | Substance Abuse and Mental Health Act Amendments | This bill expands the division's responsibilities with respect to peer support services to include peer support services for individuals with mental health disorders. | Rep. Redd | Following | Awaiting Senate committee hearing | House: 68-0-6 | |
| HB106 | Education Grant Program | This bill creates a pilot grant program for education programs for individuals in the justice system. The program would permit a qualified convicted person to avoid incarceration by completing practical trade skills education and earning certificates at a participating technical college. | Rep. Potter | Support | Awaiting Senate committee hearing | House: 68-0-7 | This bill provides women in the criminal justice system with the opportunity to earn a trade certificate, better preparing themselves for the job market and enhancing the potential for successful integration into the community. |
| HB110 | Lobbyist Licensing Modifications | This bill requires the lieutenant governor to provide, and a lobbyist to take, an annual training course relating to unlawful harassment; and prohibits a lobbyist from engaging in unlawful harassment, retailiating against an individual for filing an unlawful harassment complaint, or interfering with an investigation related to unlawful harassment. | Rep. Peterson | Following | Awaiting House committee hearing | ||
| HB139 | Telepsychiatric Consultation Access Amendments | This bill amends the Insurance Code to provide health benefit plan coverage for the use of telepsychiatric consultations. | Rep. Eliason | Support | Passed House committee 1/31; awaiting full House vote | ||
| HB164 | Early Learning Task Force | This bill creates an Early Learning Task Force to use the study related to early childhood services and resources recently completed by the Department of Workforce Services to review early learning in Utah and make policy recommendations to increase Kindergarten readiness. | Rep. Cutler Sen. Millner | Support | Failed | House: 33-36-5 | This bill helps move good policy forward in advancing the availability of high quality, affordable early childcare and education. |
| HB165 | Pretrial Release Amendments | This bill addresses conditions for pretrial release after arrest for domestic violence and other offenses. | Rep. Romero Sen. Weiler | Following | Passed House committee 2/2; awaiting full House vote | ||
| HB177 | Trauma-Informed Justice Provisions | This bill creates a trauma-informed justice program, including: creating a committee; establishing powers and duties of the committee; providing for a performance incentive grant program; and requiring reporting. | Rep. Ivory Sen. Escamilla | Support | Passed House committee 1/1; awaiting full House vote | ||
| HB207 | Fatherhood and Healthy Relationships Initiatives | This bill creates the Utah Commission on Fatherhood and Healthy Relationships. | Rep. Winder | Support | Passed House committee 1/31; awaiting full House vote | ||
| HB232 | Health Education Amendments | This bill repeals language prohibiting instruction in the advocacy or encouragement of the use of contraceptive methods or devices. | Rep. Ward | Support | In Rules | ||
| HB254 | Campus Sexual Violence Reporting | This bill enacts provisions related to reports of sexual violence at postsecondary institutions. | Rep. Coleman | Following | Awaiting House committee hearing | ||
| HB258 | Women's Cancer Screening Notification Amendments | This bill requires a facility that performs screening or diagnostic mammography to provide a patient who has dense breast tissue with a notification of that fact and options for additional cancer screening examinations. | Rep. Christensen | Support | Passed House committee 2/5; awaiting full House vote | ||
| HB262 | Hygiene Tax Act | This bill adds a sales and use tax exemption for an incontinence care item, tampons and sanitary napkins, and diapers. | Rep. Duckworth | Support | Awaiting House committee hearing | ||
| HB 276 | Retirement Income Tax Credit | This bill expands eligibility to the Retirement Income Tax Credit by removing a current age restriction which would, in turn, permit Utahns who turn 65 this year or later access to the tax credit. The credit equals $450 for an individual (or $900 for joint filers), and begins to phase out for those earning more than $25,000 (or $32,000 for joint filers). | Rep. Westwood | Support | Awaiting House committee hearing | This bill allows the next generation of retirees to keep moeny in their pockets, promoting increased self-sufficiency and independent living throughout their lives, rather than relying on government services. | |
| HB 286 | Reproductive Education Amendments | This bill amends and enacts provisions related to instruction in child sexual abuse prevention and reproductive health. | Rep. Fawson | Following | Awaiting House committee hearing | ||
| HB 298 | Victim Advocate Confidentiality Amendments | This bill addresses confidentiality related to victim advocates. | Rep. McKell | Following | Awaiting House committee hearing | ||
| HB 326 | Intergenerational Poverty Initiative | This bill establishes a pilot program in the Department of Workforce Services to address intergenerational poverty. | Rep. Redd | Support | In Rules | ||
| HB 330 | Communication Interception Amendments | This bill requires all parties to a communication to give consent to an interception, with certain exceptions. | Rep. Snow | Following | In Rules | ||
| HB 333 | Domestic Violence Response Amendments | This bill provides that assault is a class A misdemeanor when committed against an individual's cohabitant or dating partner. | Rep. Spendlove Sen. Bramble | Following | In Rules | ||
| HR1 | House Resolution Urging Restorative Justice in Utah's Education System | This resolution of the House of Representatives encourages the State Board of Education and Utah's school districts to implement restorative justice programs in Utah's public primary and secondary schools. | Rep. Hollins | Support | Awaiting House committee hearing | ||
| HCR6 | Concurrent Resolution Honoring Former Chief Justice Christine M. Durham | This resolution honors the legacy and service of former Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Christine M. Durham. | Rep. Arent Sen. Weiler | Support | Enrolled | House: 71-0-4 Senate: 25-0-4 | |
| Childcare Incentives | This bill creates tax incentives for savings accounts where both employer and employee contribute toward chilcare costs. | Rep. Edwards | Support | Drafting | This bill creates a mechanism that would improve access to affordable, high quality childcare. | ||
| SB27 | Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Amendments | This bill modifies provisions related to domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. | Sen. Weiler Rep. Romero | Support | Passed House committee 2/2; awaiting full House vote | Senate: 26-0-3 | |
| SB32 | Mental Health Crisis Line Commission Sunset Amendments | This bill extends the sunset date for the Mental Health Crisis Line Commission. | Sen. Thatcher Rep. Eliason | Support | Enrolled | Senate: 27-0-2 House: 69-0-5 | |
| SB48 | Medicaid Waiting Period Amendments | This bill requires a five-year waiting period for legal immigrants to receive benefits through the Medicaid program or Children's Health Insurance Program. | Sen. Christensen | Oppose | Withdrawn | ||
| SB112 | Voter Registration Revisions | This bill provides that an individual who applies for or renews the individual's driver license or state identification card will be registered to vote unless the individual opts out. | Sen. Henderson | Support | Passed Senate committee hearing 1/30; awaiting full Senate vote | This bill removes barriers to the polls and facilitates improved voter turnout, ensuring all Utahns have a voice at the polls. | |
| SB119 | Special Group License Plate Amendments | This bill creates a new recognition special group license plate to recognize and commemorate women's suffrage. | Sen. Henderson | Support | Passed Senate committee hearing 1/29; awaiting full Senate vote | ||
| SB 126 | Gestational Agreements Revisions | This bill repeals provisions addressing gestational agreements. | Sen. Hillyard | Oppose | Held | 4-0-4 | |
| SB 138 | Gender Change Amendments | This bill addresses legally changing an individual's gender. | Sen. Weiler | Support | Passed Senate committee; awaiting Senate vote | Passed Senate committee 3-1-3 | |
| SB 142 | Victims of Domestic Violence Services Account Amendments | This bill amends the percentage of the criminal conviction surcharge that is allocated to the Victims of Domestic Violence Services Account; and repeals the percentage of the criminal conviction surcharge that is allocated to the Office of the Attorney General for domestic violence prosecution training. | Sen. Christensen | Following | Awaiting Senate committee hearing | ||
| SB 161 | Nurse Home Visiting Pay-for-Success Program | This bill creates a pay-for-success program that will help fund evidence-based home visiting programs that use healthcare providers targeting low-income mothers and their children, with a specific measure related to post-partum depression. | Sen. Escamilla | Support | Awaiting Senate committee hearing | This bill ensures new mothers and their children have access to quality healthcare services and support, and decreases the likelihood of long-term challenges. | |
| SB 162 | Intergenerational Poverty Matching -- Education Savings Plan | This bill creates the Education Savings Matching Pilot Program to provide matching contributions to 529 savings accounts on behalf of children experiencing intergenerational poverty. | Sen. Vickers | Support | Awaiting Senate committee hearing | ||
| SB 172 | Medicaid Waiver Amendments | This bill requires the Department of Health to implement certain changes to the Medicaid program, and authorizes the Department of Health to apply for waivers or a state plan amendment if necessary to implement the changes in this bill. | Sen. Hemmert Rep. McCay | Following | Numbered | ||
| SCR1 | Concurrent Resolution Recommending Replacement of Statue of Philo Farnsworth in United States Capitol | This concurrent resolution initiates the replacement of the state's statue of Philo Farnsworth in the United States Capitol with a statue of Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon. | Sen. Weiler | Support | Passed House committee hearing 2/12; awaiting full House vote | Senate: 21-7-1 | |
| Military Spouse Professional Licensure Amendments | This bill seeks to make it easier for spouses of military personnel to work in Utah, and eliminates some of the red tape that exists to moving a licensure from state to state. | Sen. Weiler | Support | Drafting | This bill decreases the need for government assistance that many of our enlisted soldiers would qualify for without their spouse's income. | ||
| Concurrent Resolution on Postpartum Depression Awareness and Treatment | This concurrent resolution encourages state officers, agencies, medical providers, mental health providers, employers, and the general public to become aware of maternal mental health as a public health crisis in Utah, and to promote policies and practices to identify and provide treatment for women at risk for, or suffering from, pregnancy-related anxiety or depression, and post-partum depression. | Sen. Zehnder | Support |