CA AB1524

Prohibits superior courts from charging fees that exceed the actual cost to the court of providing a service or product, and requires any fee not explicitly authorized by statute or rule to be approved by the Judicial Council

Requires the Judicial Council to report to the Legislature by December 1, 2027 on fees where revenue exceeded costs in fiscal year 2026-27, including fee amounts, costs, revenue collected, and number of users

Mandates follow-up reports by December 1, 2028 and December 1, 2029 with the same fee data for fiscal years 2027-28 and 2028-29

Allows members of the public to use their own equipment (cameras, phones) to photograph or copy court records at no charge, provided the copying doesn't damage records, compromise court computer systems, or require court staff assistance

Permits courts to impose reasonable limits on personal equipment use to protect records and prevent copying from becoming an unreasonable burden on court operations