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SJ 39

Study specialty courts

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tom McGillvray

SJ 39 would authorize an interim legislative study of specialty courts to evaluate operations, outcomes, costs, and best practices for improvements.

(H) Died in Standing Committee
#courts #interimstudyresolutions #judgesandjustices
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Bill Summary · SJ 39

Summary — SJ 39: Study specialty courts

Status: Joint Resolution — Died in House Standing Committee (May 23, 2025)
Introduced: February 5, 2025
Primary sponsor: Sen. Tom McGillvray
Subjects: Courts; Judges and Justices; Legislature; Interim Studies
Related: LC 823 (replaces)

Purpose / intent

SJ 39 is a joint resolution directing an interim legislative study of "specialty courts" — court dockets or programs that focus on addressing underlying problems (for example, drug courts, mental-health courts, veterans courts, DUI courts, etc.) through a combination of judicial oversight, treatment services, and supervision. The stated aim is to evaluate how specialty courts operate in the state and identify opportunities to improve outcomes, efficiency, and coordination with other systems.

What the resolution would do (high-level)

  • Authorize an interim study on specialty courts to be conducted under the auspices of the Legislature (typically by a standing committee or a special study group).
  • Define topics for review such as program structure, eligibility criteria, treatment and services coordination, outcomes measurement, costs and funding sources, staffing and training, statutory or rule barriers, and best practices.
  • Direct the study group to solicit information from stakeholders (judges, court administrators, prosecutors, defense counsel, treatment providers, counties/tribes, and state agencies) and to compile findings and recommendations for legislative action.

Note: The bill text is not included in the legislative summary provided; the items above describe the normal scope and intent of a resolution titled “Study specialty courts.”

Who would be affected

  • State Legislature (responsible for conducting/receiving the study)
  • Judiciary and court administrators
  • Judges and court staff involved with specialty court dockets
  • Participants in specialty court programs (defendants/clients)
  • Prosecutors, defense counsel, treatment and social-service providers
  • Counties, tribes, and state agencies that fund or operate programs
  • State budget and policy-makers (through any follow-up recommendations)

Legislative actions / timeline (key points)

  • Introduced: 2025-02-05 (sponsor: Tom McGillvray)
  • Referred to Senate Judiciary; committee hearing on 2025-04-17
  • Senate Judiciary reported the resolution adopted (4/24/2025)
  • Passed second and third readings in the Senate (4/25 & 4/28/2025)
  • Transmitted to the House and referred to House Judiciary (4/29/2025)
  • House Judiciary held a hearing and later tabled the resolution; ultimately SJ 39 died in the House Standing Committee on May 23, 2025.

Potential outcomes (had it passed)

If adopted, the study would likely have produced a report to the Legislature before the next session with findings and recommendations for statutory, funding, or administrative changes to specialty court programs. Any concrete reforms would require subsequent bills enacted by the Legislature.

Notes

  • The legislative record provided does not include the full text of SJ 39; the summary above is based on the resolution’s title, classification, subject tags, and standard practice for interim study resolutions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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