Senators are split on the best way to combat the registry, Valentine said. Some want to approve the bill and patch up current law to ban such domestic partnership registries, but others want to kill the bill and let the courts rule that the registry is unconstitutional.

"We're now getting into tactics," Valentine said. "If you believe the ordinance is somehow violating those constitutional principles, do you look at another statute or bring a test case? There are some senators in my own caucus that believe it's the best strategy to encourage someone in Salt Lake City to bring litigation."

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said he doesn't now have an official position on whether the registry is constitutional or not, since no one has asked for an opinion from his office. Still, the Legislature should back off and let the courts do their job to decide on the constitutionality of issues.

"Why does the Legislature need to get involved here? Why do they need to pass another bill?" Shurtleff told the Deseret Morning News on Friday.

Shurtleff said he "wouldn't be surprised if someone sues Salt Lake City. Let them defend it."

Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker said that he is confident that the registry, which will be up-and-running sometime in March, will pass legal muster.

"Our lawyers are very confident that Salt Lake City is on rock-solid ground and if someone wants to challenge, then that's their prerogative," Becker said.

Will Carlson, spokesman for the gay rights advocacy group Equality Utah, said he welcomed the news that the House will likely kill the bill — if the Senate doesn't — because the city would have some leeway to create the domestic partner registry.

"If the city has time to act to implement the registry, people are going to see it's not as scary," he said.

Gayle Ruzicka, president of the Utah Eagle Forum, said Curtis' message is the opposite of what she's heard. -->

Attempts to contact Buttars for comment were unsuccessful.

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Contributing: Deborah Bulkeley
E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com; bbjr@desnews.com