Williams agreed, saying the suggestion of taking off Presidents Day came from the NAACP.

"We said, 'If we can ask you not to meet on the Martin Luther King holiday — it's a federal holiday — will you consider not meeting on Presidents Day?"' she said.

Williams thanked lawmakers "for making this courageous move," saying it "will increase visibility" for the holiday in a state with few minority residents.

"It just shows to not only the state of Utah but to the country that folks here in Utah understand and are sensitized to these issues ..., that we're all in this together," she said.

Both Republican and Democratic legislative leaders said they believed SJR12 would have the necessary support.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. is also supportive of the proposed change, said Mike Mower, the governor's spokesman.

Edward Lewis Jr., president of the NAACP Tri-State Conference that includes Idaho, Nevada and Utah, said the civil rights organization "will do all we can to inform the public, to educate the public and to educate the state of Utah that it is a good thing. It is the right thing. And we appreciate it."

However, if Thursday's House Republican Caucus meeting is any indication, there will be some opposition to the bill. During a voice vote, a number of lawmakers voted against the idea.

Rep. Bud Bowman, R-Cedar City, voted against the change and told fellow GOP House members: "You don't need to fix what ain't broke. Our forefathers were pretty smart fellows — they set the date" in January. "They were here before Martin Luther King was."

Rep. Eric Hutchings, R-Kearns, said the current start date allows lawmakers to hear speeches and attend memorials for King, and schoolchildren and Boy Scout troops use the holiday to visit the Legislature.

"I think we are looking at this (change) completely backwards," Hutchings said. "This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate a civil rights day. And Martin Luther King gets a tremendous amount of good public relations. I believe we should spotlight Martin Luther King day, as we do now, not run away from it"

However, Valentine said the request for the delay in starting the session has come from a variety of sources, including people in Utah who have said, "You know what, this community does respect the leaders who have fought for freedom."

Assuming the amendment passes the 2007 Legislature, and voters approve the change in November 2008, the first time the Legislature doesn't meet on Martin Luther King Jr. Day would be January 2009.