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SALT LAKE CITY — Nanette Wride and Shante Johnson can't imagine life without each other.
“We're besties. We do everything together. It’s just been a blessing,” said Wride with a laugh.
However, in a way, they also kind of wish they never met, because they're part of a club no one ever wants to be a part of.
"You never plan on this. I'm sorry to say, at my age, in your early 30s, it's not what we were planning on,” said Johnson.
You see, Shante Johnson is the widow of Derek Johnson, a Draper police sergeant shot and killed in the line of duty in 2013.
Nanette Wride is the widow of Cory Wride, a sergeant with the Utah County Sheriff's Office shot and killed in the line of duty last year.
Wednesday afternoon, the two were at the Capitol to talk about their experiences.
"You're in such shock when something like this happens that you can't even think about breathing, let alone taking the next step,” said Wride.
Often, that next step is paying the bills.
"Your mortgage is due yesterday and you no longer have health insurance. It’s tough,” said Johnson.
That’s exactly why Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, from District 13, asked Johnson and Wride to come to the Capitol.
He's introducing House Bill 288 this legislative session, a bill that would expand benefits to widows of those killed in the line of duty.
"We should have done this a long time ago,” Ray said at a podium on the south steps of the Capitol.
Instead of the current payout of $1,500, widows of law enforcement officers, firefighters and correctional officers killed in the line of duty would get six months pay of what their loved one was making.
There will be a contact person in each department, connected to the governor's office, to help streamline this process.
I want to make sure nobody else has to go through these hoops and this pain like we've had to.
–Nanette Wride
"This is probably, in my opinion, the most important bill I've ever run as a legislator,” said Ray.
A big part of the bill is to provide widows with health insurance until they are eligible for Medicaid.
When Wride and Johnson’s husbands were killed, their health insurance ran out in 30 days.
“I do not have health insurance,” said Wride.
"Currently, I am paying out of pocket for health insurance,” said Johnson.
It’s an example of why a lot of lawmakers feel this bill is so important.
It’s also why Johnson and Wride are closer than ever, knowing, unfortunately, one day someone else will join their club.
This will pass. Let me be crystal clear. I don't care how long it takes, I'm not going anywhere. This will pass. It's important.
–Shante Johnson
"I want to make sure nobody else has to go through these hoops and this pain like we've had to,” said Wride.
The bill will go to the House to be voted on in the next few days.
If it passes, the bill will then go to the Senate.
“This will pass. Let me be crystal clear. I don't care how long it takes, I’m not going anywhere. This will pass,” said Johnson. “It’s important.”