Utah legislation · 2026 General Session
Utah HJR18: Joint Resolution Urging Congress to Eliminate Marriage Penalties
Status: Passed both chambers, March 12, 2026
This resolution urges Congress to eliminate marriage penalties in federal law.
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, March 7, 2026:
0 Joint Resolution Urging Congress to Eliminate Marriage Penalties 2026 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor: Melissa G. Ballard Senate Sponsor: Heidi Balderree LONG TITLE General Description: This resolution urges Congress to eliminate marriage penalties in federal law. Highlighted Provisions: This resolution: - recognizes the role of marriage in promoting an optimal environment for children and helping to ensure economic mobility and well-being; - discusses the extent to which federal tax policies and assistance programs create marriage penalties and impact Utah's tax policies and assistance programs as a result; and - urges Congress to pass legislation eliminating all marriage penalties, both direct and indirect, that are embedded within federal tax policies and assistance programs. Money Appropriated in this Bill: None Other Special Clauses: None Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah: WHEREAS, social science evidence shows a strong correlation between stable and healthy marriage and multiple positive life outcomes for adults; WHEREAS, a stable and healthy marriage is the optimal environment for rearing thriving children and promoting greater intergenerational economic mobility; WHEREAS, stable and healthy marriages provide important benefits that strengthen neighborhoods, communities, and nations; WHEREAS, data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that marriage rates in the United States have significantly dropped from roughly 71% of all households in 1970 to about 47% of …
Sponsors
- Ballard, Melissa G. (R, 20) · primary sponsor
- Heidi Balderree (R, 22)
Latest actions
- : House/ to Lieutenant Governor
- : House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
- : House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- : Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
- : Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- : Bill Received from House for Enrolling
- : House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
- : House/ received from Senate
- : Senate/ to House
- : Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
Votes
- Senate/ passed 3rd reading (March 5, 2026): 24 yea, 3 nay, passed
- Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation (March 2, 2026): 3 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Comm - Consent Calendar Recommendation (March 2, 2026): 3 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House/ passed 3rd reading (February 26, 2026): 66 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Comm - Favorable Recommendation (February 24, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Marriage/Divorce, Resolutions, Revenue and Taxation
Common questions
- What is HJR18?
- HJR18 is a bill in the Utah Legislature (2026 General Session): Joint Resolution Urging Congress to Eliminate Marriage Penalties.
- What does HJR18 do?
- This resolution urges Congress to eliminate marriage penalties in federal law.
- What is the status of HJR18?
- Passed both chambers as of March 12, 2026. Latest action: House/ to Lieutenant Governor (March 12, 2026).
- Who sponsored HJR18?
- Ballard, Melissa G. (R, 20), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HJR18?
- On the Utah Legislature website: https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/HJR018.html
Source: official Utah record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.