This bill addresses public access to court records and proceedings and judicial financial disclosures.
This bill:
Neutral
Good Government
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Court transparency in Utah would see several changes under this bill. Starting January 1, 2027, the Judicial Council would be required to build and maintain a single public website letting people search and access court records by party name, case number, judge, attorney, judicial district, filing date, case type, and — for criminal cases — the charged offense and its outcome; to use the site, a person would have to register by providing their identity, address, and citizenship status, and the first 50 searches and 50 document downloads each month would be free, with fees allowed only beyond that. The bill would also require that audio recordings be made of all public court proceedings, except in justice courts, and that these recordings be provided to anyone who requests them, with fees allowed but never charged to a party in the case; the Judicial Council would additionally have to report by November 2026 on whether and how such recordings could be made freely available to the public. Separately, beginning May 6, 2026, the Judicial Council would be required to adopt a rule requiring judges and court commissioners to file annual financial disclosures similar to those already required of state legislators, post those disclosures on a public website, and report on this process to the Judiciary Interim Committee by November 2026.
Current version: HB0540S02 (Substitute)
Introduction
Feb 11
House Rules
House Committee
Feb 13
House Floor Vote
Feb 23
Senate Rules
Mar 4
Senate Committee
Mar 2
Senate 2nd Reading
Mar 4
Senate 3rd Reading
Mar 4
House Concurrence
Mar 5
Governor Signed
Mar 25
IntroductionFeb 11
House Rules
House CommitteeFeb 13
House Floor VoteFeb 23
Senate RulesMar 4
Senate CommitteeMar 2
Senate 2nd ReadingMar 4
Senate 3rd ReadingMar 4
House ConcurrenceMar 5
Governor SignedMar 25
This bill addresses public access to court records and proceedings and judicial financial disclosures.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Court transparency in Utah would see several changes under this bill. Starting January 1, 2027, the Judicial Council would be required to build and maintain a single public website letting people search and access court records by party name, case number, judge, attorney, judicial district, filing date, case type, and — for criminal cases — the charged offense and its outcome; to use the site, a person would have to register by providing their identity, address, and citizenship status, and the first 50 searches and 50 document downloads each month would be free, with fees allowed only beyond that. The bill would also require that audio recordings be made of all public court proceedings, except in justice courts, and that these recordings be provided to anyone who requests them, with fees allowed but never charged to a party in the case; the Judicial Council would additionally have to report by November 2026 on whether and how such recordings could be made freely available to the public. Separately, beginning May 6, 2026, the Judicial Council would be required to adopt a rule requiring judges and court commissioners to file annual financial disclosures similar to those already required of state legislators, post those disclosures on a public website, and report on this process to the Judiciary Interim Committee by November 2026.
Neutral
Good Government
Motion: Held in Committee
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Governor Signed
Lieutenant Governor's office for filing
House/ to Governor
Executive Branch - Governor
House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
Clerk of the House
House/ enrolled bill to Printing
Clerk of the House
Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
Clerk of the House
Last updated Aug 29, 2026, 5:26 PM