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Utah House designates 'Start by Believing' awareness day after brief floor debate
Summary
The House approved a concurrent resolution designating the first Wednesday in April as "Start by Believing Day," a public-awareness campaign focused on responses to sexual assault. An amendment seeking procedural protections was ruled not germane and withdrawn before the resolution passed 69–3.
The Utah House on Feb. 17 adopted HCR 1, designating the first Wednesday in April as "Start by Believing Day," a public-awareness campaign intended to improve community responses to sexual and domestic assault. Representative Angela Romero, who introduced the resolution, said the campaign focuses on encouraging supportive initial responses and directing victims to resources.
Romero told colleagues the designation is supported by the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice and a range of victim‑service and law‑enforcement organizations. "Start by Believing is a public awareness campaign uniquely focused on the public response to sexual assault," Romero said, urging members to back the resolution and the community outreach it promotes.
Representative Jason Tanner offered an amendment aimed at ensuring balanced investigative procedures and raised concerns that the slogan could be interpreted as presuming guilt. The Speaker ruled the amendment not germane to the bill’s title and Tanner withdrew it. Romero responded by emphasizing the resolution’s narrow, awareness-oriented purpose and the coalition of stakeholders backing it.
After discussion, the House opened and closed voting; HCR 1 passed the body 69–3 and was transmitted to the Senate for its consideration.
The resolution is symbolic and does not change criminal procedure; the sponsor characterized it as an education and awareness effort. The next procedural step is Senate consideration of HCR 1.
