On Feb. 20, several members of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah attended a rally at the Utah Capitol in support of H.B. 30, the Indian Family Preservation Act.
Speakers at the event include Tamra Borchardt-Slayton, who spoke on behalf of PITU; Mike Slayton, who related his experience growing up as a Native American in the foster system; Rep. Angela Romero, the sponsor of H.B. 30; and Stephanie Benally, Native American Specialist for Utah Foster Care and a board member for Voices for Utah Children and the Tribal Relief Foundation. There was also music from the drum group Grayhawk.
The message? “Native Families Need Your Voice – Support H.B. 30, the Indian Family Preservation Act”
READ ON TO FIND OUT HOW
Native children in Utah are being removed from their homes at alarming rates. In 2022, nearly 6% of children removed by the Utah Division of Child and Family Services were Native—despite Native Americans making up only 1.6% of the state’s population.
When the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) was passed in 1978, 25–30% of Native children had already been taken from their families nationwide. We cannot allow history to repeat itself.
THE CLOCK IS TICKING
We have just two weeks to push H.B. 30 out of the Utah House Rules Committee and into the Judiciary Committee. Call your legislators and the Judiciary Committee members today—urge them to advance H.B. 30 and protect Native families.
To find your legislators go to https://le.utah.gov/ and click “Find Your Legislator” on the homepage below the calendar.
You can also contact the Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Nelson Abbott (district 57) via email: nabbott@le.utah.gov or phone: 385-358-3269.
Tell them of the urgent need to move HB 30 forward!
This fight has been uphill, but with your voice, we can make real change. Act now.
In addition to contacting your legislators, you can sign a statement in support of the Indian Family Preservation Act here: https://pitu.gov/indian-family-preservation-act-statement-of-support/
To read H.B. 30 in its entirety, click here: https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0030.html
On the bill page, you can sign up for status updates via email.
To see the full photo gallery from the H.B. 30 rally at the Utah Capitol, click here.