Senate extends Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls task force through November 2024

The Utah Senate on Feb. 1 approved House Bill 25, extending the state’s Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls Task Force by one year to Nov. 30, 2024, to allow additional testimony collection from families and tribal communities. Senator Hinkins, sponsor on the floor, said the task force "has traveled around the state of Utah, allowing people that's had, missing and murdered, people in their families testify to the commission" and noted visits to Bluff, Cedar City and Salt Lake to gather testimony.

The bill was taken up under suspension of rules and the third‑reading requirement. Senator Escamilla spoke in support, describing the bill as an inclusive effort working "with our Native American communities to make sure that they're being inclusive" and praising the bill’s recent changes. After brief discussion, the Senate voted by roll call: House Bill 25 passed 27 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent. The bill will be signed by the president and returned to the House for the speaker’s signature.

After passage senators invited visiting tribal leaders to the chamber horseshoe and recognized delegations from eight federally recognized tribes present for the day. Senator Hinkins read a floor recognition noting these tribes as sovereign governments and thanked the tribal leaders for working with state officials on shared goals. Senate leadership thanked the guests for their attendance and noted the importance of continued collaboration.

The action extends the task force’s statutory window to collect testimony and makes it eligible to convene additional meetings in places the commission has not yet visited. The bill record notes the specific extension dates (from Nov. 30, 2023, to Nov. 30, 2024). The next procedural step recorded on the floor is presidential signature and return to the House for the speaker’s signature.