Utah Considers Allowing Pregnant Women Disabled Parking Passes

Proposal aims to help pregnant women, but raises concerns over accessibility for those with disabilities

Jan. 28, 2026 at 8:39pm

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The Utah Legislature is considering a bill that would allow pregnant women to obtain temporary disabled parking placards. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Trevor Lee, says it's a way to support families and potentially boost the state's falling fertility rate. However, some lawmakers and disability advocates have expressed concerns that this could violate the Americans with Disabilities Act and take away parking spaces from those who truly need them.

Why it matters

The proposal highlights the challenges of balancing support for pregnant women with the needs of the disabled community when it comes to accessible parking. It raises questions about whether temporary disability accommodations for pregnancy are appropriate or if they could set a precedent that undermines the intent of disabled parking laws.

The details

Rep. Trevor Lee's bill would allow pregnant women in Utah to obtain a temporary disabled parking placard while they are pregnant. The placard would become invalid after the pregnancy. Some lawmakers, like House Minority Leader Angela Romero, are concerned this could violate the ADA and take away spaces from those who truly need them. Disability advocate Andrew Riggle also expressed this concern, noting that women can already get temporary placards if their pregnancy qualifies as a disability.

  • The Utah Legislature is currently in session and the bill was presented on January 29, 2026.
  • The legislative session ends on March 6, 2026.

The players

Rep. Trevor Lee

The Republican state representative from Layton who introduced the bill to allow pregnant women to obtain temporary disabled parking placards.

House Minority Leader Angela Romero

The Democratic state representative from Salt Lake City who expressed concerns that the bill could violate the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Andrew Riggle

The public policy advocate at the Disability Law Center who uses a power wheelchair and argued the proposal is unnecessary since women can already get temporary placards if their pregnancy qualifies as a disability.

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What they’re saying

“I believe we need to keep doing more policies in our state that help incentivize and help those who want to have big families and grow and expand. We definitely have a fertility crisis in this state, and it's something that is a simple bill but can make a good little difference to show we support families that want to grow and have those kids.”

— Rep. Trevor Lee (ksltv.com)

“My concern is not to discriminate against women who are pregnant or who choose to be pregnant multiple times. My concern is those stalls are there for people who really have trouble walking or need that space to do their shopping or business.”

— House Minority Leader Angela Romero (ksltv.com)

“I know how hard it can be to find accessible spaces firsthand. This proposal is unnecessary.”

— Andrew Riggle, public policy advocate at the Disability Law Center (ksltv.com)

What’s next

The Utah House committee unanimously voted to hold the bill so Rep. Trevor Lee can work on finding a 'middle ground' on the issue. The legislative session ends on March 6, 2026.

The takeaway

This proposal highlights the delicate balance between supporting pregnant women and preserving accessibility for those with disabilities. While the intent is to help pregnant women, there are valid concerns that it could undermine the purpose of disabled parking laws and violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. Finding a solution that works for both groups will be crucial as the legislature continues to debate this issue.