The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland that convenes within the State House in Annapolis. It is a bicameral body:the upper chamber,the Maryland Senate,has 47 representatives,and the lower chamber,the Maryland House of Delegates,has 141 representatives. Members of both houses serve four-year terms. Each house elects its own officers,judges the qualifications and election of its own members,establishes rules for the conduct of its business,and may punish or expel its own members.
The rights of lesbian,gay,bisexual,and transgender (LGBT) people in the U.S. state of Utah have significantly evolved in the 21st century. Protective laws have become increasingly enacted since 2014,despite the state's reputation as socially conservative and highly religious. Same-sex marriage has been legal since the state's ban was ruled unconstitutional by federal courts in 2014. In addition,statewide anti-discrimination laws now cover sexual orientation and gender identity in employment and housing,and the use of conversion therapy on minors is prohibited. In spite of this,there are still a few differences between the treatment of LGBT people and the rest of the population,and the rights of transgender youth are restricted.
Patricia W. "Pat" Jones is an American politician from Utah. A Democrat,she was a member of the Utah State Senate from 2006 to 2014,and currently runs the Women’s Leadership Institute in Utah. She is also senior adviser at Cicero Group,a research and strategy firm in Salt Lake City.
Stephen Harold Urquhart is an American politician and religious leader from Utah. A Republican,he was a member of the Utah State Senate,representing the State's 29th Senate district in Washington County from 2009 to 2016,and he served in the Utah House of Representatives from 2001 to 2009.
Lyle W. Hillyard is a Utah politician and an attorney. A Republican,he was a member of the Utah State Senate,representing the state's 25th senate district in Cache and Rich Counties including the city of Logan. He served in the legislature from 1981 to 2020,first as a representative from 1981 to 1984,then as a senator from 1985 to 2020.
Cindy Acree was a legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado. Elected to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Republican in 2008,Acree represented House District 40,which encompasses Elbert County and eastern Arapahoe County from 2008 to 2012.
Dan Gattis is an Attorney and Rancher living in Central Texas. He was a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives,formerly representing the 20th District from 2003 to 2011. His district was made up of Milam and part of Williamson County Gattis had planned to run for the Texas State Senate in 2010,after serving 4 terms in the Texas House of Representatives,after State Senator Steve Ogden announced his potential retirement but later withdrew from the race and instead announced that he himself was retiring from political office to spend more time with his family and in his legal and ranching endeavors. Coinciding with Gattis' retirement announcement,Senator Ogden subsequently reconsidered his retirement and announced for re-election. Since retiring from public office Dan is often sought after for political and legislative advice.
Edward Harman Lindsey Jr. is an American attorney and former member of the Georgia House of Representatives. He represented the 54th district which covered parts of Fulton County,and the Republican Party. Lindsey served as the House Majority Whip. Previously,he served as the chair of the House Appropriations Sub Committee on Education from 2009 to 2010. He unsuccessfully ran for the Georgia's 11th congressional district in 2014. Later that year,he stepped down from his state house seat to join a special committee to solve Georgia's transportation issues.
Dean Sanpei is an American politician and a Republican member of the Utah House of Representatives representing District 63 since his June 10,2010 appointment to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Stephen Clark. He lives in Provo with his wife,Hinckley,and their two children:Joelle and Timothy.
Val L. Peterson is an American politician and a Republican member of the Utah House of Representatives representing District 56 and lives there with his wife,Ann. He currently serves as Vice President of Administration and Legislative Affairs at Utah Valley University.
Stephen G. Handy is an American politician who served as a member of the Utah House of Representatives for the 16th district. He assumed office on April 15,2010.
Steven 'Steve' Eliason is an American politician and a Republican member of the Utah House of Representatives representing District 43.
Bradley 'Brad' G. Last is an American politician and a former Republican member of the Utah House of Representatives representing District 71.
Wayne A. Harper is an American politician and a Republican member of the Utah State Senate representing District 16 since 2023. Prior to redistricting he represented District 6 starting in 2013. Harper served in the Utah House of Representatives from January 1,1997,until December 31,2012,in the District 43 seat.
Ralph Okerlund is an American politician and a Republican and a former member of the Utah State Senate that represented District 24 from 2009 to 2020. He was the Senate's majority leader from January 28,2013 to 2020.
Arkansas HB 1228,also known as the Conscience Protection Act and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act,is a law in the state of Arkansas that aims to increase "judicial scrutiny" in cases involving religious beliefs. Opponents of the law say that it will allow for lawful discrimination of LGBT people. The law was passed by the Arkansas Senate on March 31,2015. The next day,Governor Asa Hutchinson announced he would not sign the bill as written,instructing the legislature to make changes to its language. The final version was passed and signed into law as Act 975.
Justin L. Fawson is an American politician and a Republican member of the Utah House of Representatives representing District 7 since April 23,2014.
Scott Chew is an American politician and a Republican member of the Utah House of Representatives representing District 68.
Jennifer Dailey-Provost is an American politician serving as a member of the Utah House of Representatives from the 22nd district. Elected in November 2018,she assumed office on January 1,2019.
Melissa Garff Ballard is an American politician and music educator who has been serving as a member of the Utah House of Representatives for the 20th district since January 1,2019.
