As Utah lawmakers return to Capitol Hill for the 2026 legislative session, LGBTQ+ advocates are once again preparing for another wave of proposed bills — for the fifth year in a row — that focus on limiting the rights of transgender people.
One bill in particular, HB183, is being called especially alarming by Equality Utah, the state’s leading LGBTQ+ advocacy group.
“That is by far the most harmful and outrageous piece of legislation I have seen in a long time,” said Marina Lowe, policy director for Equality Utah.
What HB183 Proposes
Sponsored by Rep. Trevor Lee of Layton, the bill would make sweeping changes across Utah state law. Some of its key proposals include:
- Replacing the term “gender” with “identity based on birth” in many legal codes, including protections for housing, jobs, and crime victims.
- Blocking updates to official records such as birth certificates.
- Instructing state agencies to use only fixed identity terms when drafting rules.
- Preventing schools and certain licensed care providers from hiring individuals with certain identities to work directly with children.
- In custody disputes, the bill would allow courts to consider a parent’s disagreement with a child’s identity as a reason to award them custody.
- Removing identity protections from a rule that prevents offensive messages on license plates.
Lowe believes the bill would send a dangerous message and lead to increased discrimination. “This would basically make it legal to treat certain people unfairly under state law,” she said.
She added that the bill could have widespread consequences for healthcare workers, mental health services, foster care, youth programs, and more — all areas where people should be treated equally.
Impact on Employment and Community Roles
Another part of the bill would prevent individuals with certain identities from being hired in schools or even interacting with students for more than five minutes. Lowe said this amounts to “erasing an entire group of people from public life.”
She also warned that this would undo progress made over the past decade, especially the 2015 “Utah Compromise” law. That law created a balance between equal treatment and religious freedom and was supported by both faith groups and LGBTQ+ organizations.
Rep. Lee Defends the Bill
In an interview, Rep. Trevor Lee claimed the bill is about returning to “basic values” and avoiding what he called “confusion” in society. He also said he opposes updates to personal records, calling them “confusing.”
Lee’s comments reflect his belief that current laws are too accepting of different identities and that they should be reversed.
A Deeply Divisive Proposal
Lowe strongly disagrees. She says this bill is one of the most extreme efforts she has seen to remove basic rights from a small and vulnerable group of people.
She hopes that other lawmakers, especially those who have worked on bipartisan efforts in the past, will reject the bill. “This doesn’t help anyone,” she said. “It just puts more people at risk.”
Even Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, a key Republican leader, expressed caution. He said the 2015 anti-discrimination law was carefully crafted, and he would be “very hesitant” to support changes that could damage it.
Another Controversial Proposal: Renaming Harvey Milk Boulevard
Rep. Lee is also behind another bill, HB196, which would rename 900 South in Salt Lake City — currently known as Harvey Milk Boulevard — after conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who was killed last year during an event in Utah.
LGBTQ+ groups and Salt Lake City leaders are opposing this move. They say it disrespects the legacy of Harvey Milk, a well-known leader for equal rights, and interferes with local decisions.
“Trevor Lee seems strangely focused on the LGBTQ community,” Equality Utah leaders said in a statement. “Trying to rename the most well-known LGBTQ street in Utah is not leadership — it’s attention-seeking.”
Lee, however, said Kirk represented traditional values and wanted respectful conversation across political differences.
Past Controversies Resurface
Lee also repeated past accusations against Harvey Milk, which have circulated for years but were never proven in court. Critics say this is just another way to discredit a well-known LGBTQ+ figure.
Equality Utah dismissed Lee’s claims and urged lawmakers to focus on more important issues affecting the state.
Other Bills Raising Concern
HB183 isn’t the only bill this year that’s worrying advocates. Others include:
- HB193 – Would stop public funding for care supporting identity expression.
- HB95 – Would prevent public employees from facing consequences for not recognising someone’s identity.
- HB174 – Would require doctors to phase out ongoing treatments for young people, even if they are already receiving care.
- HB114 – Would place restrictions on public performances and criminalize certain events in front of young people.
Lowe said the number of bills this year is overwhelming and painful for those who feel targeted.
“It’s heartbreaking for the community to have to wait every January, wondering how they’ll be targeted next,” she said. “These are people’s lives. And they’re not going away.”
