Committee reviews bill to shorten notice and clarify tech access for remote testimony in civil cases

House Committee on Judiciary members on the record discussed House Bill 2,461, a measure that would replace a fixed 30‑day advance‑notice requirement for requests to testify remotely in civil cases with a case‑by‑case “sufficiently in advance” standard and add specificity to the prejudice factor about whether reliable facilities or technology are readily available to the court, counsel, parties and witnesses.

Supporters told the committee the change would preserve parties’ opportunity to challenge a remote‑testimony request while reducing a burdensome statutory deadline. "The rule was 30 days advance notice. In some of our summary cases, you don't have 30 days. And in, all cases, 30 days is unnecessarily long and burdensome," said Mark Peterson, executive director of the Council on Court Procedures. Kimberly McCullough, senior…