As we start to go into the last week of session, I wanted to run where we are at on key bills I am watching. Friday night at midnight is constitutionally Sine Die, the end of session.
On committee agendas (2):
HB0329 – Adult Event Permit Amendments. This is the one that is obviously an attempt to regulate drag shows like the one that was in the news in St George. The problem is that this lets public entities determine what is sexual and then the requirements are placed in effect. So it can impact drag negatively and expand beyond that for any LGBTQ+ event if they wish to sexualize us. Substitute 2 specifically added parades and outdoor events. This is on the agenda for the Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee on Monday at 8 AM. It is 13th on the agenda.
SB0154 – Adoption Amendments. This allows for religious objections to providing foster/adoption services. It has been changed to put all providers in a consortium and dictates anyone with objections will connect the family with a consortium member for service. Being heard by the House Government Operations committee on Monday, February 27th at 4:00 PM and is second on the agenda.
Passed House and Senate (3):
SB0016 – Transgender Medical Treatments and Procedures Amendments. We all know about this one by now. Bans transgender youth healthcare with provisions for grandfathering, studies, and increased malpractice verbiage. Signed by the Governor and now law. Lawsuit by NCLR and ACLU is pending.
SB0100 – School Gender Identity Policies. This dictates that if a youth wants to change their name or gender on their official record, the parents will be contacted and must approve in writing. Signed by the Governor on February 16th and now law.
HB0228 – Unprofessional Conduct Amendments. Can it be? A good bill? Yes, Conversion Therapy is a Governor’s signature away from being in law. This didn’t have the clause for expediting, so unless vetoed, this will be law on May 3rd and replace the current DOPL policy.
Voted down (1):
HB0132 – Prohibiting Sex Transitioning Procedures on Minors. This was voted down in committee in the same meeting SB0016 was passed, so the committee apparently made their choice which one to move forward on. Not likely at all to come back as a Zombie bill.
Moving through the first chamber (1):
HB0463 – High School Sports Amendments. This prevents a public school from participating in an association that doesn’t collect birth certificates. The ban last year was directed at those under the Utah High School Activities Association. Now they seem to want to expand the impact. If a private school doesn’t collect BCs, then public schools can’t play them. Addressing a previous note I had that this would impact those without Birth Certificates, it now has language for alternate identification. On the House 3rd Reading Calendar and currently circled.
Moving through the second chamber (2):
SB0093 – Birth Certificate Modifications. This passed the Senate a while back and has been updated with Substitute 2. This has changed the ban on most changes from being under 18 to under 15 1/2 It also creates a second page for specific purposes that tracks amendments. Additionally, it now provides a lot of language for the courts in making their decision. This was passed out of the House Judiciary committee and is making a trip back to the House Rules committee. I suspect this will just be a formality and it will appear on the House Floor shortly.
HB0209 – Participation in Extracurricular Activities Amendments. This came on my radar after it was already moving because of this change added: “prohibits a public school from participation in an athletics association that does not collect and review an athlete’s birth certificate during the registration process”. You will see this wording also in HB0463, which is a standalone bill. I will talk about this more there. This is tabled on the Senate 3rd Reading Calendar
Waiting to be on a committee agenda (1):
HB0550 – School Curriculum Requirements – Originally this started off as a Don’t Say Gay bill. Equality Utah met with the sponsor and he took out Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. Now the bill just says to be age appropriate when discussing sexuality. This has just moved out of Rules and to the House Transportation Committee. Yes, Transportation. You see this towards the end where bills may not go to an appropriate committee but it becomes more of an effort to send bills to committees that are lower on work and have capacity.