But it turns out the nationally-organized Patrick Henry Caucus is backing HJR24 and if it passes each chamber with a two-thirds majority vote, the conservative organization intends to help persuade voters to approve the measure in November.

"We view this as part of the state sovereignty initiative," said Rep. Carl Wimmer, who founded Utah's Patrick Henry Caucus. "We'll put in the footwork to get the constitutional amendment passed."

And the battle against reverse discrimination -- perceived or real -- is evidently well under way.

"We have thousands of members throughout the state," Wimmer said, "that will hold their legislators accountable for their vote on this issue."

HJR24 grew legs shortly after a Feb. 11 House Republican Caucus visit from Ward Connerly of California's American Civil Rights Coalition (ACRC), a nonprofit organization established in 1997 as part of a national effort to end racial and gender preferences.

Jennifer Gratz, who won a U.S. Supreme Court appeal of her University of Michigan reverse-discrimination case, accompanied Connerly.

Rep. Curtis Oda, R-Clearfield, is HJR24's sponsor -- Wimmer abandoned his bill when Oda's came forward to avoid duplication.