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House Approves Kiosk Program to Help People Prepare Court Documents, with Questions on Costs and Scope
Summary
House Bill 79 would place touchscreen kiosks in four judicial districts to generate pro se court forms and instructions in English and Spanish; sponsor said a $150,000 fiscal note covers software and a $10 per-transaction fee is proposed. The House passed the bill 49–18 after extended questioning about access, cost recovery and contested matters.
The Utah House approved House Bill 79, a proposal to install computerized ‘‘pro se’’ kiosks in four judicial districts to help people who cannot afford legal counsel prepare court documents.
Representative Hayman, sponsor of the bill, described a kiosk system modeled on an Arizona pilot. He said the kiosks would provide touch-screen access to forms and guidance for eviction filings, uncontested divorces, enforcement of visitation and related filings, small claims, landlord-tenant information, and notarization instructions. Hayman said the program would cost about $150,000 to finalize the kiosk software and recommended a $10 user fee per transaction to help maintain the system.
During extended questioning, lawmakers pressed the sponsor on practical details. Representative Haman asked whether the kiosks generate complete documents that a user would then take to the courthouse; Hayman replied the kiosks guide users through a question-and-answer flow and print documents with instructions for filing and notarization. Lawmakers raised scenarios in which both tenant and landlord used kiosks to generate competing documents; Hayman said a technical policy board would set standards for how concurrent filings are handled and ensure the kiosks meet court requirements.
Representative Alexander and others pressed the sponsor on the fiscal model: Hayman cited Arizona usage figures and estimated up to 1,500 transactions per kiosk annually, which at $10 each could generate about $15,000 per kiosk per year; with four kiosks that would be roughly $60,000 annually toward operating costs. Hayman said the one-time software development cost may be recouped over time but that long-term funding would be evaluated if demand required expansion.
The House debated whether sensitive contested matters (for example, enforcement of visitation, custody, or contested property division) are appropriate for kiosk-generated filings; Hayman said the kiosks are intended mainly for pro se, primarily uncontested proceedings and appropriate safeguards would be maintained.
Voting was recorded and the House announced that House Bill 79 received 49 affirmative votes and 18 negative votes; the bill passed and will be referred to the Senate for further consideration.
Supporters framed the bill as expanding access to the justice system for people who cannot afford attorneys; critics questioned whether the user fee and the $150,000 software cost are adequate for long-term operation and whether kiosks should be used for contested matters.
