WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 25-239

Nonattorney Access to Court Data

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Judy Amabile and 8 co-sponsors

Establishes a framework for nonattorneys to access court data, with registration, privacy protections (redaction), security rules, and fees to cover costs.

Governor Signed
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 25-239

SB 25-239 — Nonattorney Access to Court Data

Status: Governor Signed (Signed April 28, 2025)
Introduced: March 31, 2025

Summary — purpose and intent

SB 25-239, titled "Nonattorney Access to Court Data," addresses how persons and entities that are not licensed attorneys may obtain and use court records and court-generated data. The bill’s stated intent (as reflected by its title and legislative movement) is to create a statutory framework that balances public access and transparency with privacy, security, and the proper functioning of the courts.

Legislative status and sponsors

  • Governor Signed: 2025-04-28
  • House and Senate passed without amendments; final legislative steps completed April 16–28, 2025.
  • Sponsors: primary — Rick Taggart, Barbara Kirkmeyer, Jeff Bridges, Emily Sirota; cosponsors — R. Keltie, S. Bird, L. Smith, J. Amabile, M. Weissman.

Key provisions (general summary based on bill title and legislative intent)

The legislative text is not included here. Typical provisions found in bills of this subject and likely included in SB 25-239 are described below. For exact statutory language, consult the enacted bill.

  • Definitions: Establishes terms such as “nonattorney,” “court data,” “electronic court records,” “bulk data,” and “sensitive personal information.”
  • Access mechanisms: Creates authorized methods for nonattorneys to request or retrieve court data (e.g., public access terminals, online portals, APIs, or bulk-download procedures).
  • Registration/approval: Requires nonattorney users (individuals, companies, researchers, media) to register, apply, or meet conditions before receiving bulk or API access.
  • Permitted uses and restrictions: Specifies allowable uses (research, journalism, public interest, commercial use) and prohibits misuse (harassment, doxxing, identity theft, targeted solicitation).
  • Privacy and redaction rules: Requires redaction or exclusion of sensitive data fields (SSNs, financial account numbers, juvenile or sealed records, certain protected addresses) before disclosure.
  • Fees and cost recovery: Authorizes courts to charge fees for data access, processing, or custom queries; may establish a fee schedule to cover administrative and technical costs.
  • Security, audit, and compliance: Imposes technical security requirements, auditing rights, and reporting obligations; authorizes sanctions for noncompliance (revocation of access, fines).
  • Implementation authority: Directs the judicial branch or administrative office to promulgate rules and technical standards and to implement phased rollout.

Who would be affected

  • Nonattorneys seeking court data: journalists, academics, researchers, companies (including data brokers), NGOs, and members of the public.
  • Courts and court administrators: must implement registration systems, redaction procedures, technical interfaces, and fee collection.
  • Individuals whose information appears in court records: may see improved privacy protections or, depending on implementation, increased exposure if redaction is insufficient.

Potential impacts

  • Transparency and research: Improved, standardized access can aid transparency, academic research, and public reporting.
  • Privacy and safety: Stricter redaction rules aim to protect victims and private parties; enforcement will be key.
  • Administrative burden and costs: Courts may face initial IT and staffing costs; fee provisions can offset costs but may create access barriers.
  • Commercial use: Clarifies whether and how private companies can aggregate and resell court data — with implications for data broker activity.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Introduced in the Senate March 31, 2025; passed both chambers in April 2025; signed by the Governor April 28, 2025.
  • Effective date and any phased implementation schedule are not included here — check the enacted bill text for the effective date and rulemaking deadlines.

For precise legal obligations, fee amounts, and exact redaction rules, review the final enrolled bill or the published statute on the state legislature or judicial branch website.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.