Utah legislation · 2026 General Session
Utah HB397: Courtroom Audiovisual Modifications
Status: Failed, March 6, 2026
This bill addresses audiovisual coverage of a court proceeding.
What the bill says
From the substitute text, February 6, 2026:
0 Courtroom Audiovisual Modifications 2026 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor: Michael L. Kohler Senate Sponsor: LONG TITLE General Description: This bill addresses audiovisual coverage of a court proceeding. Highlighted Provisions: This bill: - defines terms; - requires the Administrative Office of the Courts to provide a livestream of certain court proceedings for public observation; - provides exceptions to the requirement to provide a livestream; - requires the Administrative Office of the Courts to create an audiovisual recording of each livestream and make the recording freely available for public observation; and - makes technical and conforming changes. Money Appropriated in this Bill: None Other Special Clauses: None Utah Code Sections Affected: ENACTS: 78A-2-234 , Utah Code Annotated 1953 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah: Section 1. Section 78A-2-234 is enacted to read: 78A-2-234 . Livestreaming of a court proceeding -- Audiovisual recording of a livestream. (1) As used in this section: (a) "Court proceeding" means a hearing, trial, or other appearance before a court that is open to the public. (b) "Court website" means the same as that term is defined in Section 78A-2-233 . (c) "Livestream" means a live internet broadcast of audio and video. (d) "Less restrictive alternative" includes: (i) allowing remote audio listening while disabling video observation; or (ii) suspending a …
Sponsors
- Kohler, Mike L. (R, 59) · primary sponsor
- Keven Stratton (R, 24)
Latest actions
- : House/ filed
- : House/ strike enacting clause
- : LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0397S01
- : LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0397S01
- : LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0397S01
- : LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0397S01
- : House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
- : LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0397
- : LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0397
- : House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
Subjects: Technology, Government Records, Courts, Judicial Operations, Judicial Administration
Common questions
- What is HB397?
- HB397 is a bill in the Utah Legislature (2026 General Session): Courtroom Audiovisual Modifications.
- What does HB397 do?
- This bill addresses audiovisual coverage of a court proceeding.
- What is the status of HB397?
- Failed as of March 6, 2026. Latest action: House/ filed (March 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB397?
- Kohler, Mike L. (R, 59), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB397?
- On the Utah Legislature website: https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/HB0397.html
Source: official Utah record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.