SALT LAKE CITY—The Utah House has voted to allow cities and counties to make dependent registries based on financial need as long as they don’t create “marriage look-alikes.”

Senate Bill 299 passed 61-9 March 5, the last day of the legislative session. The bill would allow government employees to extend their health benefits to dependents, including an adult designee.

Any registry that creates something akin to a domestic partnership or civil union would be void. If the bill becomes law, Salt Lake City would have to reconsider the terminology of its domestic partnership registry.

Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker said he feels good about the outcome.

“In terms of the actual substantive result, our policy for a registry has been vindicated by the legislature,” said Becker.

Mike Thompson, executive director of the gay rights organization Equality Utah, said the bill is a step in a positive direction.

“It allows relationships to be recognized and people in those relationships to take part in benefits,” he said. “It’s not bad for members of our community.”