Utah Senate advances behavioral-health pilot, election changes and bereavement leave; sends multiple bills to the House

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate on day 15 of the legislative session on Wednesday advanced a package of bills that included a $200,000 pilot to integrate behavioral and physical health services, new rules allowing municipalities to cancel uncontested local races, and an expansion of bereavement leave to cover miscarriage and stillbirth.

Senator Kennedy presented Senate Bill 41 as a response to gaps in care for people experiencing homelessness and behavioral-health conditions: “What this bill does is create a pilot program. It would be a 200,000 initial outlay from the general fund,” he said, adding the bill would seek a Medicaid waiver to support continuation if the pilot proves effective. The measure passed on third reading, with the Senate recording 28 yea votes, 0 nay, and 1 absence.

Senator Iwamoto described Senate Bill 11 as clarifying when a municipal legislative body may cancel a local election or race — and as an effort to limit unnecessary ballot mailings in uncontested races. “This bill describes circumstances under which, and by method by which a…