Ask AI
Bill116th CongressFiled Sep 14, 2020Law
H.R. 8235

Open Courts Act of 2020

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

Filed
Comm.
Floor
Both
Law

What it doesSummary passed house (Dec 8, 2020)

Open Courts Act of 2020

This bill requires the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to establish a single electronic system for all public court records that is publicly accessible for free. Under the existing Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system, users are charged fees for accessing court documents.

To fund the development of the new consolidated system, the Judicial Conference must temporarily establish a progressive schedule of additional fees for persons, other than government agencies, that are higher-volume users of PACER.

To fund the operations of the new system, the Judicial Conference shall collect an annual fee from federal agencies based on the amount of PACER fees paid by the agencies in 2018.

The Judicial Conference may also establish reasonable filing fees based on specified factors, including the extent of a person's use and the interests of justice.

The bill specifies various reporting requirements related to the new system, including for the Government Accountability Office.

What just happenedDec 9, 2020

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [D-GA-4](D-GA)Sponsor
1 cosponsor1 R
Read on Congress.gov
1cosponsors2committees11actions2related bills7subjects
  1. Dec 9, 2020IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  2. Dec 8, 2020FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. Dec 8, 2020FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7015-7018)

  4. Dec 8, 2020Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

  5. Dec 8, 2020FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8235.

  6. Dec 8, 2020FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7015-7021)

  7. Dec 8, 2020FloorH30300

    Mr. Johnson (GA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  8. Sep 15, 2020Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Judiciary Committee
  9. Sep 14, 2020IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  10. Sep 14, 2020IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  11. Sep 14, 2020IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed HouseDec 8, 202053

Open Courts Act of 2020

This bill requires the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to establish a single electronic system for all public court records that is publicly accessible for free. Under the existing Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system, users are charged fees for accessing court documents.

To fund the development of the new consolidated system, the Judicial Conference must temporarily establish a progressive schedule of additional fees for persons, other than government agencies, that are higher-volume users of PACER.

To fund the operations of the new system, the Judicial Conference shall collect an annual fee from federal agencies based on the amount of PACER fees paid by the agencies in 2018.

The Judicial Conference may also establish reasonable filing fees based on specified factors, including the extent of a person's use and the interests of justice.

The bill specifies various reporting requirements related to the new system, including for the Government Accountability Office.

Introduced in HouseSep 14, 2020

Open Courts Act of 2020

This bill requires the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to establish a single electronic system for all public court records that is publicly accessible for free. Under the existing Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system, users are charged fees for accessing court documents.

To fund the development of the new consolidated system, the Judicial Conference must temporarily establish a schedule of additional fees for persons that are higher-volume users of PACER.

To fund the operations of the new system, the Judicial Conference shall collect an annual fee from the Department of Justice based on the amount of PACER fees paid by the department in 2018. The Judicial Conference may also establish reasonable filing fees based on specified factors, including the extent of a person's use and the interests of justice.

Open Courts Act of 2020 — Informed