Overview
- HB540, sponsored by Rep. Logan Monson and championed by House Speaker Mike Schultz, would require a searchable online portal for court audio and certain records modeled on the Legislature’s website.
- The bill adds new judicial financial disclosures and a two-year cooling-off period that bars former judges from joining firms that are suing the state.
- Access would include up to 50 free searches per month before fees apply, a shift from the current Xchange system that charges for searches and $10–$15 per audio file.
- Utah’s courts say they are analyzing infrastructure and funding needs for the database, with lawmakers and court administrators discussing privacy protections for victims.
- Co-Equal Utah and other legal stakeholders argue the proposal risks undermining judicial independence, and the bill has been introduced but not yet scheduled for a committee hearing as the session nears March 6 adjournment.