Utah Senate advances package of bills on mental health training, family law, courts and corrections

The Utah State Senate on day 7 amended and passed multiple measures affecting mental‑health professional training, family law, court procedures and judicial staffing, and approved a symbolic joint resolution urging Congress to keep the Supreme Court at nine justices.

The measures moved through the chamber after brief presentations from sponsors and largely voice or roll‑call support. Sponsors said the bills address workforce capacity for behavioral‑health clinicians, clarify alimony awards, set a bright‑line definition of indigency for fee waivers, add judges in rural districts with a modest fiscal note, and expand correctional officer eligibility to younger recruits.

Senator Kennedy offered a one‑word amendment to First Substitute Senate Bill 44 (Mental Health Professional Practice Act Amendments) to correct an inaccuracy; the amendment was adopted and the Senate passed the bill 26‑0 with three absent. Kennedy said the bill “expands the opportunities that our clinical mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists have to…