YWCA UTAH BILL TRACKER

YWCA Utah tracks all bills that significantly impact Utah women, girls, and families with highlights listed below. If you have questions about our position or the status on legislation not listed here, please contact us.

YWCA Utah tracks bills in three priority areas:

Empowerment & Economic Advancement for Women and Girls

Position	Bill	Bill Sponsor(s)	Status
Priority Support	SB 39 Affordable Housing Amendments Allocates approximately $20M in one-time funding for new affordable housing, preservation of existing units, and projects in rural Utah. Also provides $15M in ongoing funding for rental assistance to those who are at risk of becoming homeless and to families with children who are currently experiencing homelessness.	Sen. Anderegg Rep. Potter	Passed out of Senate Economic Development & Workforce Services Committee, passed Senate 2nd Reading, on 3rd Reading Calendar
Support	HB 211 Renter Expenses Disclosure Requirements Prohibits an owner from charging an amount that is not disclosed in the rental agreement unless a 15-day notice of charge is provided. Also requires the agreement to outline all criteria the owner will review as a condition of accepting the prospective renter, such as criminal history, credit, income, employment, or rental history.	Rep. Judkins Sen. Weiler	Held in House Business and Labor Committee on 2/6, may come back after changes

TIER 2: Bills that contribute to work-family support policies for women who need or want to work outside the home.

Position	Bill	Bill Sponsor(s)	Status
Priority Support	HB 69 Sick Leave Amendments Requires employers to allow an employee to use accrued sick leave to care for an immediate family member. Does not require employers to allocate paid sick leave if not already their policy, or to increase the amount of leave available.	Rep. Arent	Failed to pass out of House Business & Labor Committee Listen to Hearing Here
Priority Support	HB 89 Workforce Development Incentives AmendmentsAllows the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to consider whether a company provides working parent benefits such as paid family leave, flexible work hours, or child care assistance when deciding on tax incentives offered to new businesses coming into the state.	Rep. Harrison Sen. Anderegg	Introduced in House, on 2/21 House Revenue and Taxation Committee agenda but adjourned before it was heard
Priority Support	HB 99 Enhanced Kindergarten Amendments Provides funding for an enhanced kindergarten early intervention program to reach most if not all of the 40% of Utah student at-risk of academic failure. Begins to address increasing statewide desire of families for more full-day Kindergarten programs.	Rep. Snow Sen. Hillyard	Passed full House, Passed Senate Education Committee, progresses to Senate Floor
Priority Support	HB 187 Employer Tax Credit for Child Care Creates a state income tax credit for any employer providing or subsidizing child care for its employees during their working hours. Care facilities must be licensed by the state and the credit will be equal to 50% of the qualified child care expenses with a cap of $50,000 per business.	Rep. Harrison Sen. Anderegg	Heard in House Revenue and Taxation Committee on 2/21, committee adjourned before voting Listen to hearing here
Support	HB 264 Infant at Work Pilot Program Establishes the Infant at Work Pilot Program for eligible employees of the Department of Health.	Rep. Pitcher Sen. Henderson	Passed unanimously out of House Business and Labor Committee, circled on House 3rd Reading Calendar

TIER 3: Bills that ensure that tax restructuring reflects economic issues impacting women and their families

Position	Bill	Bill Sponsor(s)	Status
Priority Support	SB 116 Social Security Income Tax Amendments Provides for an individual income tax credit for certain social security benefits for those who are married filing separately at $40,000 income, single filers at $50,000, individual head of household and joint filers at $80,000.	Sen. Mayne	Introduced in Senate
Support	HB 52 Intergenerational Poverty Solution Provides a state match of deposits into a 529 savings account for individuals identified as experiencing Intergenerational Poverty.	Rep. Thurston	Introduced, Assigned to House Econ Development & Workforce Services Committee
Support	HB 193 Hygiene Tax Act Increases the general state sales and use tax rate and creates a tax exemption for certain incontinence care items, feminine hygiene products, and diapers.	Rep. Duckworth	Introduced in House
Support	HB 181 Social Security Tax Amendments Provides for an individual income tax credit for certain social security benefits for those who are married filing separately at $22,500 income, single filers at $30,000, individual head of household at $45,000, and join filers at $45,000.	Rep. Brooks	Introduced in House

Other bills that impact empowerment and economic advancement for women and girls, including those that facilitate women’s political participation and leadership:

Position	Bill	Bill Sponsor(s)	Status
Support	HJR 7 Joint Resolution Ratifying an Amendment to the United States Constitution Ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the Constitution of the United States.	Rep. Kwan	Introduced in House
Support	HJR Joint Resolution Celebrating the Women’s Suffrage in Utah Describes history of women’s suffrage in Utah, honors and celebrates Utah’s suffragists, and encourages Utah women to continue to participate in civic life.	Rep. Ballard Sen. Henderson	Passed both chambers unanimously, signed by the Governor
Support	SCR 4 Concurrent Resolution Commemorating the Centennial of the League of Women Voters Commemorates The League of Women Voters centennial on February 14, 2020 and recognizes the League as an important civic organization working for the welfare of all Utahns and their long history of civic engagement.	Sen. Iwamoto Rep. Ray	Introduced in Senate

Racial Justice & Civil Rights for Women and Girls of Color

Position	Bill	Bill Sponsor(s)	Status
Priority Support	HB 298 Victim Guidelines for Prosecutors Provides uniform guidelines for prosecutors and other entities (i.e., law enforcement agencies) regarding proper protocol related to immigration status forms of a crime victim when the victim cooperates with the investigation. This is usually related to crime victims’ eligibility for a U-VISA, which is common for domestic violence victims.	Rep. Stoddard Sen. Weiler	Passed out of House Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice Committee unanimously, passed full House, sent to Senate
Support	HB 160 Refugee Continuing Education Program Creates refugee education program within DWS Refugee Services Office and in partnership with school districts so adult students, age 18-23, who are not eligible for traditional high school can obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent. Would initially serve approx. 60 students.	Rep. Spackman Moss Sen. Riebe	Passed full House, Introduced in Senate

TIER 2: Bills that address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women, girls, and 2-spirit people in Utah.

Position	Bill	Bill Sponsor(s)	Status
Priority Support	HB 116 Murdered & Missing Indigenous Women, Girls and LGBTQ+ Task Force Creates a task force to identify systemic causes behind violence that indigenous women, girls, and LGBTQ+ experience, identify gaps in local, state, and federal law enforcement agency data collection, study an effective mechanism for law enforcement to collect uniform data, and recommend improvements in the criminal justice and social service systems for preventing and addressing this issue in Utah.	Rep. Romero Sen. Hinkins	Passed full House, introduced in Senate

TIER 3: Bills that increase healthcare availability and options for women who are incarcerated and who are disproportionately women of color.

Position	Bill	Bill Sponsor(s)	Status
Support	HB 38 Substance Use and Healthcare Amendments Requires state to request Medicaid waiver from federal govt so coverage can be provided to certain inmates 30 days before release from a correctional facility to ensure coverage post-incarceration, and creates substance abuse and mental health telehealth pilot program in rural jails. Helps bridge care for people transitioning out of incarceration, especially county jails where population is more transient.	Rep. Daw Sen. Christensen	Passed full House, passed Senate 2nd reading unanimously, tabled on 3rd reading due to fiscal note

Other bills that impact racial justice and civil rights for women and girls of color, including ongoing criminal and juvenile justice reform:

Position	Bill	Bill Sponsor(s)	Status
Support	HB 262 Juvenile Delinquency Amendments Prohibits the prosecution for offenses that occurred before the individual was 13 years old, and amends that any individual under 18 years old who tries to buy or possess tobacco or nicotine products will receive a citation rather than being subjected to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court.	Rep. Hall	Passed out of House Judiciary Committee, on House 3rd reading calendar
Support	HB 288 Prosecutor Data Collection Amendments Requires prosecutors, county jails, and the courts to provide data, including race, ethnicity, and gender and information regarding plea deals, reduced bail, and cases sent to diversion to the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice.	Rep. Judkins	Introduced in House, Assigned to House Judiciary Committee
Support	HB 324 Conviction Integrity Units Allows prosecution agencies to create conviction integrity units to review convictions and make recommendations for changes in convictions and sentences; requires notice to the victim if a petition is filed by the prosecution agency and gives district court discretion to provide relief.	Rep. Judkins Sen. Weiler	Introduced in House

Health & Safety for Women and Girls

Position	Bill	Bill Sponsor(s)	Status
Priority Support	HB 313 Telehealth Parity Amendments Allows any primary care provider to provide telehealth services and requires all insurance companies and Medicaid to cover telemedicine services.	Rep. Ballard Sen. Christensen	Passed out of House Business & Labor Committee unanimously
Priority Support	HB 87 Health Care Workforce Financial Assistance Program Amendments Makes changes to successful program so that host sites also provide a portion of funding (along with existing state and federal funds) for student loan assistance for healthcare professionals who practice in an under-served area and with under-served populations. Would leverage more federal funding, increase number of sites.	Rep. Ward Sen. Hemmert	Passed full House unanimously, introduced in Senate and assigned to Senate Economic Development & Workforce Services Committee
Support	HB 32 Crisis Services Amendments Addresses Medicaid reimbursement for inpatient mental health care and awards grants for counties to create behavioral health receiving centers in order to increase services for people experiencing a mental health crisis without requiring incarceration or emergency room hospitalization.	Rep. Eliason Sen. Thatcher	Passed full House unanimously, introduced in Senate
Support	HB 97 Newborn Safe Haven Amendments Allows a parent or a parent’s designee to safely relinquish a newborn child within 30 days after the child is born, clarifies the information that must be provided upon safe relinquishment of a newborn child, as well as the notice requirements relating to safe relinquishment of a newborn.	Rep. Arent Sen. Sandall	Passed full House and Senate Health & Human Services Committee unanimously, on Senate 2nd reading calendar
Support	SB 22 American Indian-Alaska Native Related Amendments Requires the establishment of an office to address health care of Utah’s American-Alaskan Native population on and off reservations and appoint a Native Health Liaison.	Sen. Iwamoto Rep. Winder	Passed full Senate and House Health & Human Services Committee unanimously, waiting in House Rules for final reading until funding determined
Monitor	HB 224 Fetal Exposure Reporting and Treatment Amendments Clarifies requirement that health care providers report a newborn child’s exposure to alcohol or drugs, or parent or caregiver’s substance abuse if it impacts ability to care for the child. Creates program to decrease substance use during pregnancy.	Rep. Nelson Sen. Christensen	Passed full House and Senate Health & Human Services Committee unanimously, progresses to Senate floor

TIER 2: Bills that ensure that all Utah women are empowered to start their families at the time that’s right for them.

Position	Bill	Bill Sponsor(s)	Status
Priority Support	SB 74 Family Planning Services Amendments Extends Medicaid-covered family planning services to low-income individuals who are at or below 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL) – approx $31K per year for an individual or $64K for a family of four. Currently at 95% of FPL. Amended on Senate floor to limit services to individuals who are 18 or older.	Sen. Kitchen	Passed full Senate as amended, progresses to House
Support	HB 254 Health Care Amendments Allows health care providers to prescribe contraceptives to a minor without parental consent if detrimental to minor’s health to withhold it.	Rep. Ward	Introduced in House, assigned to Health & Human Services Committee
Monitor	HB 377 Health Care Funding Amendments Requires the Department of Health to request a waiver from federal restrictions on providing funding to states that prohibit prescribing contraceptive medicines to minors without parental consent (which is the law in Utah) so that the Department can then apply for Title X federal funding to provide family planning and other pre/postnatal care to pregnant women in low-income and underserved areas. This bill would require that that funding be prioritized for enabling women to give birth and parent or place for adoption.	Rep. Strong	Introduced in House
Support	SB 136 Healthy Lifestyles Revisions Repeals a provision prohibiting encouragement of the use of contraceptive methods or devices related to health instruction and requires local education agencies to report to the state board on the percentage of students who receive written parental consent to participate in sex education instruction.	Sen. Riebe	Held in Senate Education Committee, may be studied during interim

TIER 3: Bills that enhance safety and increase resources for prevention education and support services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

Position	Bill	Bill Sponsor(s)	Status
Priority Support	Statewide Sexual Assault Prevention Program This request was changed to intent language and suggested that it be funded through one-time, leftover TANF funds. Intent language considered by committee:authorize $1,141,400 one-time in federal funds for the Statewide Sexual Assault Prevention Program in the Department of Workforce Services – Operations and Policy line item. The Legislature intends that the 1,141,400 provided in the Department of Workforce Services – Operations and Policy line item for the Statewide Sexual Assault Prevention Program from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) federal funds is dependent upon the availability of and qualification for the Statewide Sexual Assault Prevention Program for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families federal funds.	Rep. Romero	Approved
Support	HB 83 Expungement Amendments Requires a prosecutor to notify a victim if a perpetrator enters into a plea agreement and is allowed to expunge their record in certain cases (common in domestic violence cases).	Rep. Stoddard Sen. Weiler	Passed full House and Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice Committee unanimously, progresses to Senate floor
Support	HB 267 Prohibited Persons Amendments Provides a process for surrendering a firearm after an individual becomes a restricted person, including requiring an individual to surrender ownership and possession of all firearms within 72 hours of becoming a restricted person and authorizing law enforcement to search and seize the firearms of a restricted pers	Rep. Stoddard Sen. Weiler	Passed full House, sent to Senate
Support	SB 102 Marriage and Bigamy Amendments Reclassifies the crime of bigamy as an infraction, classifies inducing involuntary bigamy as a third degree felony, modifies the list of crimes that, when committed in conjunction with bigamy, are a second degree felony.	Sen. Henderson Rep. Snow	Passed full Senate and House Committee unanimously, on House 3rd reading calendar
Support	SB 80 Campus Safety Amendments Requires the State Board of Regents to coordinate with government and community organizations to study and make recommendations for providing public safety services on college and university campuses, and report to Education Interim and Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Interim committees.	Sen. Iwamoto Rep. Perry	Passed full Senate, passed House Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice Committee, progresses to House floor
Support	SB 87 Firearm Commitment Amendments Provides for circumstances where a cohabitant may commit the firearm of a firearm owner cohabitant without the permission of the owner cohabitant.	Sen. Thatcher	Introduced in Senate

Policy priorities are informed by the YWCA Utah Public Policy Committee, YWCA member feedback, and YWCAdvocacy Connect policy survey responses, and The Well-Being of Women in Utah Fact Sheet, which we will continue to publish annually with the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

Learn more about our 2020 Policy Priority Areas and policy work for all women and girls in Utah.

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