Common Ground Bills to be Heard This Week
On Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 2:00 p.m. the House Business and Labor Standing Committee will hear testimony on HB 267 Antidiscrimination Act Amendments. This bill by openly lesbian Rep. Christine Johnson, D-Salt Lake City, seeks to make it illegal for employers and landlords to fire or evict someone based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. At press time, the hearing is scheduled to take place in room 450 in the State Capitol main building.
At the same time, the House Health and Human Services Standing Committee will hear testimony on HB 288. Sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck, D-Salt Lake City, this bill would make it legal for gay and lesbian couples to adopt children. At press time, this hearing is scheduled to take place in room 30 in the House Building.
On Wednesday, Feb. 18 the House Judiciary Standing Committee will hear testimony on HB 160. This bill by Rep. Jennifer Seelig, D-Salt Lake City, would allow committed couples with proof of commingled assets and liabilities to apply for a Declaration of Joint Support, which would grant them inheritance rights and the right to make health decisions for a partner if she or he is unable to do so. Testimony is scheduled to take place at 9:15 a.m. in room 20 of the House Building.
The public is invited to attend these hearings.
To contact the representatives on these committees and urge them to vote in favor of these bills, refer to this list of email addresses.
House Business and Labor
Rep. James A. Dunnigan jdunnigan@utah.gov 801-968-8594
Rep. Patrick Painter ppainter@utah.gov 435-660-1147
Rep. Jackie Biskupski jbiskupski@utah.gov 801-484-8369
Rep. Stephen D. Clark sclark@utah.gov 801-374-6927
Rep. Susan Duckworth sduckworth@utah.gov 801-250-0728
Rep. Gage Froerer gfroerer@utah.gov 801-391-4233
Rep. Kevin S. Garn kgarn@utah.gov 801-544-3533
Rep. Francis D. Gibson fgibson@utah.gov 801-491-3763
Rep. Neil A. Hansen neilhansen@utah.gov 801-393-1514
Rep. Brian S. King briansking@utah.gov 801-583-5464
Rep. Todd E. Kiser toddkiser@utah.gov 801-647-8499
Rep. Michael T. Morley mikemorley@utah.gov 801-636-0296
Rep. C. Brent Wallis bwallis@utah.gov 801-479-1683
Rep. R. Curt Webb curtwebb@utah.gov 435-753-0215
House Health and Human Services
Rep. Paul Ray, (Chair) pray@utah.gov 801-725-2719
Rep. Ronda Rudd Menlove, (Vice Chair) rmenlove@utah.gov 435-458-9115
Rep. Trisha S. Beck tbeck@utah.gov 801-243-1596
Rep. Bradley M. Daw bdaw@utah.gov 801-850-3608
Rep. Phil Riesen priesen@utah.gov 801-560-3055
Rep. Stephen E. Sandstrom ssandstrom@utah.gov 801-224-2194
Rep. Evan J. Vickers evickers@utah.gov 435-586-4399
House Judiciary Standing Committee
Rep. Lorie D. Fowlke (Chair) lfowlke@utah.gov 801-225-0721
Rep. Don L. Ipson (Vice Chair) dipson@utah.gov 435-673-8216
Rep. Sheryl L. Allen sherylallen@utah.gov 801-295-8576
Rep. Jim Bird jbird@utah.gov 801-280-9056
Rep. Francis D. Gibson fgibson@utah.gov 801-491-3763
Rep. Keith Grover keithgrover@utah.gov 801-319-0170
Rep. Eric K. Hutchings ehutchings@utah.gov 801-963-2639
Rep. Kay L. McIff kaymciff@utah.gov 801-608-4331
Rep. Kraig Powell kraigpowell@utah.gov 435-654-1550
Rep. Jackie Biskupski jbiskupski@utah.gov 801-484-8369
Rep. Christine A. Johnson christinejohnson@utah.gov 801-661-3489
Rep. Brian S. King briansking@utah.gov 801-560-0769
Rep. Mark A. Wheatley markwheatley@utah.gov 801-264-8844