H.B. 397: Courtroom Audiovisual Modifications

What the bill does

Did not pass both chambers; the bill was filed on March 6, 2026.

This bill addresses audiovisual coverage of a court proceeding.

• 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
• Makes technical and conforming changes

The description and list come from the bill's own long title as recorded by the Legislature. Read the official bill. The Ledger takes no position on it.

Subjects: Technology · Government Records · Judicial Administration · Courts · Judicial Operations

How it moved

1. January 28, 2026 · House1st reading (Introduced)Rules Committee
2. March 6, 2026 · Housefiledfile for bills not passed

Steps as the Legislature recorded them; clerical and fiscal-staff entries are left out. Numbers such as 54-14-7 are yeas, nays and absent.

Fiscal note

From the Legislative Fiscal Analyst's note on 1st Sub. H.B. 397 (Buff), dated February 17, 2026. A fiscal note estimates direct costs and revenue; it is not an appropriation.

• State revenue: Enactment of this legislation likely will not materially impact state revenue.
• State expenditures: Enactment of this bill could cost $1,048,600 one-time and $4,762,700 ongoing from the General Fund beginning in FY 2027 for hardware, software, digital storage/recording, and ongoing livestream production costs.
• Local government: Enactment of this legislation likely will not result in direct, measurable costs for local governments.
• Individuals and businesses: Enactment of this legislation likely will not result in direct expenditures from tax or fee changes for Utah residents and businesses.

Bill overview

Sponsor: Mike L. Kohler

Senate floor sponsor: Keven J. Stratton

Legislature passed-list status: Not available in the saved metadata.

Passed-list membership is not a finding that a bill was signed or took effect. A bill absent from that list is not necessarily pending or defeated.

Latest recorded action

filed
Action date: March 6, 2026

The full step list is above. Find the bill in the official session list for status, hearings and committee records.

Recorded floor votes

No floor-vote records for this bill and session are available here. This does not mean no vote occurred; consult the official bill record.

Ledger coverage

No Ledger stories with an explicit source link to this bill and session are listed here.