Link to bill: https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/HJR002.html
What Would It Do?
- HJR2 raises the standard for granting injunctions (holds) on laws
- Requires a lawsuit to be "likely to prevail on its merits"
- Removes the more subjective standard that a lawsuit "present serious issues".
- The passage of this bill would allow injunctions placed previously under the subjective "serious issues" standard to be reconsidered.
- This has a high potential to remove the injunction (hold) on SB 174 (The Life at conception bill/Abortion Trigger Bill)
- Reenacting SB174 would make elective abotion prohibited in Utah with exceptions for rape, incest and risk to the life of the mother.
Relevant information
- This bill must pass with a two thirds majority in both legislative chambers in order to be enacted immediately. Enacting this bill and removing the injunction on our abortion ban would immediately save 9 babies per day.
Why we support this joint resolution.
- It is good policy to have clearly defined standards by which judges make the determination to put a law on hold. Removing subjective standards and enforcing a high standard to reverse state law is good practice.
- The power invested to the legislature by the people should not be able to be overturned by one judge without said judge having to meet appropriate standards.
- This would bring Utah civil rules into alignment with federal rules.
- This has a serious chance to remove the injunction on our abortion prohibition bill, which would start saving babies immediately.
What can I do?
- Contact your legislator and ask them to support HJR 2 so we can save babies and enact our abortion prohibition.