Legislation that would deny recognition to same-sex marriages won unanimous endorsement by a Utah House committee that was told the measure could face a legal challenge.
Utah already bans same-sex marriages. House Bill 366 would deny recognition of such marriages performed in other states. Hawaii is one state that could legalize such unions.The House Energy, Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee unanimously endorsed the measure Monday with no debate.
"(There are) possible due-process issues since marriage is a fundamental constitutional right," legislative attorney Janetha Hancock wrote in a legal assessment of the bill. "But there are strong arguments that the state's interest outweighs any infringement."
Rep. Norm Nielsen, R-Orem, the sponsor, urged lawmakers to act on the merits of the measure "without being held hostage by some threatened lawsuit."
American Civil Liberties Union attorney Jensie Anderson told the committee that her organization is "adamantly and resolutely opposed to HB366 as unconstitutional."