House Approves Heise's Electronic Court Filing and Records Law

The Michigan House on March 6 approved legislation introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise, R-Plymouth, to allow courts to maintain electronic records and utilize electronic court filings, according to a news release from Heise. The bill now goes to the state Senate.

House Bill 4064 removes the restriction against electronic records and will allow courts to determine the best method for record-keeping and filing. According to Heise's office, the bill is considered a high priority by the Michigan Supreme Court as it seeks to cut costs and improve access to litigants and the public.

"This bill would make the courts more accessible to the people of Michigan and helps bring us into the 21st century," said Heise, who is also an attorney. "Electronic court records make navigation of the legal process more efficient, and it will cut costs. The goal is to allow for modernization of our courts and make them more user-friendly, just as we are mandating in every area of government.”

The bill would allow courts to retain court records electronically, allow citizens to access them electronically, and allow the filing of documents over the Internet, according to the news release. The bill would not place a mandate on the courts, but allow them to make the best and most cost-effective and efficient choices for themselves.

"This bill is a common-sense change that will modernize our courts and make them more efficient and effective,"Heise said. "It will give the courts the flexibility needed to make their records and filing processes easier and therefore make the courts work better for the people of Michigan."