We need to tell the Utah Senate that HB 205—the Down Syndrome abortion ban—is an unconstitutional attack on a women’s right to choose and a waste of taxpayer money.
Protect Reproductive Rights in Utah
HB 205, "Down Syndrome Nondiscrimination Abortion Act", is the first major challenge of the 2018 Utah legislative session.
Our Take on This Bill: HB205 makes it a crime for doctors in Utah to perform abortions if the provider believes the pregnant woman is seeking the abortion "solely because an unborn child has, or may have, Down syndrome." It is a calculated and unconstitutional attack designed to burden women, scare doctors, and chip away at Roe v. Wade. On Monday, February 5, this bill passed the Utah House on a 54-17 vote. This bill will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, 2/26/18.
| HB205 "Down Syndrome Nondiscrimination Abortion Act" |
| Text (Web) (PDF) |
| Sponsor Rep. Karianne Lisonbee (R-Clearfield) |
| Floor Sponsor: Sen. Curt Bramble (R-Provo) |
| Latest Status: Assigned to Senate Judiciary Commitee (2/22/18) |
| Track this bill (link) |
HB 205 was assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee and will be heard (see agenda) on Monday, February 26th, at 4pm in the room 250 Utah Capitol (map to room)
This is what you can do:
1) Email the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee (see chart below) to tell them why you oppose HB 205.
- Even if these committee members aren't your state Senator, you can still contact them to express your views on HB 205.
- Remember to be polite, concise, and describe any professional or personal experience you have with healthcare, legal issues, or reproductive rights.
- You can also email all seven memers of the Senate Judiciary committee by clicking on this link (Email Entire Senate Judiciary Committee).
- You can also email individual members of the committee by clicking in the email addresses in the chart below.
- If you use Twitter, consider sending persuasive Tweets to Senators using the hashtashs #HB205 #utleg and #utpol
- Download these ACLU of Utah Talking Points on HB 205 to craft your communications to these senators (Word) (PDF)
| SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE | ||||
| Senator | County | Phone | ||
| Sen. Todd Weiler (R), Chair | Salt Lake/Davis | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | 801-599-9823 | @GOPTodd |
| Sen. Gene Davis (D) | Salt Lake | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | 801-647-8924 | |
| Sen. Luz Escamilla (D) | Salt Lake | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | 801-550-6434 | @SenatorLuz |
| Sen. Lyle W. Hillyard (R) | Cache/Rich | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | @SenLyleHillyard | |
| Sen. Wayne L. Niederhauser (R) | Salt Lake | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | 801-742-1606 | @waynenieder |
| Sen. Ralph Okerlund (R) | Central Utah | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | 435-979-7077 | @RalphOkerlund |
| Sen. Daniel W. Thatcher (R) | Salt Lake | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | 801-759-4746 | @SenThatcher |
2) You can also contact your own state Senator to tell them to oppose HB 205.
- Be sure to explain that you are a constituent (state this in the subject line and the text of your email--you can't say it enough)
- Remember to be polite, concise, and describe any professional or personal experience you have with healthcare, legal issues, or reproductive rights.
- Download these ACLU of Utah Talking Points on HB 205 to craft your communications to these senators (Word) (PDF)
- If you use Twitter, consider sending persuasive Tweets to Senators using the hashtashs #HB205 #utleg and #utpol
- If you don't know your state Senator, click on the button below or review this Senate roster for the name of your representative.
Resources about HB 205
Listen as the ACLU of Utah's Marina Lowe discuss the impact of HB 205 in the first episode of "ACLU on the Hill"
HB205 "Down Syndrome Nondiscrimination Abortion Act" (link) (PDF)
7th Circuit hears challenge to ‘discriminatory’ abortion ban
Indiana Laywer
(2/16/18)
Controversial bill to ban Down syndrome abortions easily passes Utah House
Salt Lake Tribune
(2/5/2018)
Bill would prohibit abortion when motivation for it is Down syndrome
Deseret News
(1/22/2018)
If we pass this bill, we are buying ourselves a lawsuit’: A proposed abortion bill might be unconstitutional, but that’s not stopping Utah lawmakers
Salt Lake Tribune
(1/25/2018)
New Ohio law prevents abortions in Down syndrome cases
CNN
(12/22/17)