HB23-1186 Summary

• Courts must allow both parties and witnesses in residential eviction cases to choose remote participation by phone or video on a court-designated platform for any hearing, return, conference, or trial.

• Pro se defendants may file answers and other documents electronically; courts cannot charge e-filing or service fees for motions to waive filing fees or for indigent parties' electronic filings.

• If a party disconnects or experiences technology failure during remote participation, the court must attempt to reconnect them and reschedule the hearing in person within one week; courts cannot enter default judgments due to technological failures.

• Eviction complaints must include plaintiff's preferred participation method (in-person or remote), and summons must notify defendants of their right to appear remotely and contain information about remote participation procedures.

• Appropriates $418,118 to the judicial department for the 2023-24 fiscal year ($59,318 from general fund, $358,800 from information technology cash fund) to implement remote participation infrastructure.