Utah Gov. Olene Walker signed SB 24, banning state recognition of same-sex marriages and equivalent relationships
On March 23, 2004, Utah Governor Olene Walker signed S.B. 24, the "Marriage Recognition Policy," into law, effective the same day as Session Law Chapter 261. The bill, passed by the Utah Senate 24–4 and the Utah House 62–12, banned recognition of same-sex marriages and any relationship status "substantially equivalent" to marriage within Utah. The legislation was a statutory non-recognition provision distinct from the same-session HJR 025 constitutional referral, which sent Amendment 3 to voters.