UtahUtah courts will post records and record open proceedings
Starting in 2027, people can search public Utah court records on one website and request recordings of open proceedings, while judges and court commissioners file annual disclosures.
What it does
The Judicial Council must provide one website to search and access public court records. Users must register with identifying information, and fees may apply after 50 monthly searches or downloads.
Utah courts must record the open portions of public proceedings and provide recordings on request. Justice courts are excluded, and parties cannot be charged for recordings they request.
Judges and court commissioners must file annual financial disclosures under Judicial Council rules. The council must post them online and report its actions to lawmakers.
Argument forOne searchable website with free routine searches and downloads could help people find public court records more easily.
Argument againstRequiring users to give their identity, address, and citizenship status could make some people less willing to search court records online.
More detail
The Judicial Council must establish and maintain one website for searching and accessing public court records. The website covers court records that the law does not prohibit from public disclosure. Users must register with their identity, business or home address, and citizenship status. The council may charge for each search or download beyond 50 of that type in a calendar month. The website requirements take effect January 1, 2027.
Courts must record public proceedings, and the Administrative Office of the Courts must provide recordings on request. These rules cover public proceedings in Utah courts other than justice courts. Recordings must include the open portions from the start of a proceeding through its end, and the public must be told when a proceeding is being recorded. The recording requirement does not apply to justice courts. The council may set fees to search for or retrieve recordings, but it may not charge a party who requests a recording. The recording and request requirements take effect January 1, 2027. The council must report recommendations about public access to recordings by November 30, 2026.
The Judicial Council must require annual financial disclosures from judicial officers, post them online, and report its actions to the Judiciary Interim Committee. Judicial officers include judges and court commissioners in justice, district, juvenile, Business and Chancery, appellate, and Supreme courts. The disclosures must be comparable to the conflict-of-interest disclosure described in another Utah law. This requirement took effect May 6, 2026. The council's report was due before November 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 25Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 12House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 12House/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 11House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 11Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Mar 6Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 6Bill Received from House for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 6House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Mar 6House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ to House
- Vote recorded House/ concurs with Senate amendment. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 5Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 5House/ to Senate
- Mar 5House/ concurs with Senate amendmentMajor
- Mar 5House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Mar 5House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ to House with amendments
- Mar 5Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionPassed Senate
- Mar 5Senate/ floor amendment
- Mar 5Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 5Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules [Senate Rules Committee]Minor
- Mar 3LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0540S02
- Mar 3LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0540S02
- Mar 2Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 2Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted [Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee]
- Mar 2LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0540S01
- Mar 2LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0540S01
- Mar 2Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee]Minor
- Mar 2Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation [Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee]Major
- Mar 1LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0540S02
- Mar 1LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0540S02
- Feb 25Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee]Minor
- Feb 24Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 24Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Feb 23House/ to Senate
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 23House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Feb 23House/ uncircled
- Feb 23House/ circled
- Feb 23House/ substituted
- Feb 23House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 23LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0540S01
- Feb 23LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0540S01
- Feb 17House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 17House/ committee report favorable [House Judiciary Committee]Minor
- Feb 13House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Judiciary Committee]Minor
- Feb 13House Comm - Reconsider actions [House Judiciary Committee]
- Feb 13House Comm - Held [House Judiciary Committee]
- Feb 13House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Feb 13LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0540
- Feb 13LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0540
- Feb 11House/ to standing committee [House Judiciary Committee]Minor
- Feb 11House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 11House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Feb 11LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0540
- Feb 11LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0540
- Feb 11Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Feb 11Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
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