Legislation Related to the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act (UELMA)

Printed versions of legislative documents are still the official version in most states. But digital versions of statutes, administrative rules and other legal and legislative documents are gaining broad use in the legal and legislative community, and in some cases, may be the only version. To address concerns about online-only legal resources, the Uniform Law Commission in July 2011 approved the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act (UELMA). It provides for the authentication and preservation of certain electronic legal materials. California and Colorado adopted the act in 2012. This web page tracks introduced legislation related to UELMA.

For more information about UELMA, see "Online and Authentic?" and "State Uniform Law Commission: An Update for Legislative Lawyers" and Preserving Legislative Digital Records. 

2013 Legislation | 2012 Legislation

2013 Legislation

As of April 22, 2013

Summary: At least 12 states have introduced legislation related to UELMA in 2013.  Three states--Hawaii, Minnesota and North Dakota--have enacted legislation in 2013.

Colorado
H.B. 1182
Establishes the legislative digital policy advisory committee (advisory committee). The advisory committee consists of the state archivist, the librarian of the supreme court library, the state librarian, the director of research of the legislative council staff, the director of the office of legislative legal services, the chief clerk of the house of representatives, and the secretary of the senate, or any of their designees. The advisory committee is required to develop plans relating to converting existing archived recordings of legislative proceedings into a digital format; and implementation of the "Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act." The advisory committee is required to report its findings to the committee on legal services and the joint budget committee by November 1, 2013.

Connecticut
S.B. 235
Concerns the adoption of the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act; adopts the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act in this state.

Hawaii
H.B. 18
Establishes authentication and other requirements for selected legal materials if they are published exclusively in electronic form.

S.B. 32
Status: April 11, 2013; Signed by Governor, Act 11.
hes authentication and other requirements for selected legal materials if they are published exclusively in electronic form.

Illinois
S.B. 1941
Creates the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act to provide for the utilization of legal material in an electronic record; applies to all legal material designated as official under the Act and published after its effective date; defines legal material and other terms; includes court reports, statutes, session laws, rules, and agency decisions; provides for an official publisher for the material, including the Supreme Court and the Secretary of State.

Massachusetts
H.B. 26
Submits recommendations of the Commission of Uniform State Laws.

H.B. 38
Relates to the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act; relates to legal material published in an official electronic record; relates to session laws, information in the Constitution, general laws, state agency decisions and other material published in the state register or the code of state regulations; provides for authentication of an electronic record.

Minnesota
H.B. 278
Status: March 14, 2013; Signed by Governor. Chapter 7
Relates to state government; enacts the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act approved by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.

S.B. 157
Relates to state government; enacts the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act approved by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.

Missouri
S.B. 478
Relates to the electronic publication of official legal material.

Nevada
S.B. 105
Enacts the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act.

North Dakota
H.B. 1129
Status: April 8, 2013; Signed by Governor.
Relates to the enactment of the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act; provides a method for a user to determine that the record received by the user from the publisher is unaltered from the official record published by the publisher. 

Oregon
H.B. 2944
Status: April 18, 2013; In House: Second Reading.
Adopts Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act; declares emergency, effective on passage.

Pennsylvania
S.B. 601
Amends Titles 44 (Law and Justice) and 45 (Legal Notices) of the Consolidated Statutes, modernizing publication of Commonwealth legal materials; provides for uniformity in electronic legal materials in the areas of designation, authentication, preservation and access; confers powers and duties on various Commonwealth agencies; in publication and effectiveness of Commonwealth documents; further provides for the Joint Committee on Documents.

Rhode Island
H.B. 5850
Status: April 18, 2013 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration.
Would create the "Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act" for the purpose of regulating the official publication of legal material in an electronic record.

2012 Legislation

Year-end summary

Summary: Six states introduced legislation in 2012 to adopt the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act (UELMA), which provides for the authentication and preservation of certain electronic legal materials. California and Colorado adopted the act in 2012.  For more information about UELMA, see "Online and Authentic?" and "State Uniform Law Commission: An Update for Legislative Lawyers" and Preserving Legislative Digital Records.

CALIFORNIA
S.B. 1075
Status: September 13, 2012; Signed by Governor, Chapter 310.
Enacts the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act to provide for the official designation, authentication, and preservation of certain legal material in electronic records by an official publisher. Designates the Legislative Counsel Bureau as the official publisher for purposes of the act.

COLORADO
H.B. 1209
Status: April 30, 2012; Session Law Chaptered. Chapter No. 138
Relates to the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act; provides that if legal material is only published electronically, the official publisher is required to designate the record as official, but if it is published in another format, the publisher may make such designation; provides that electronic legal material in an electronic record that is authenticated by the official publisher is presumed to be an accurate copy of the legal material.

CONNECTICUT
S.B. 418
Status: May 9, 2012; Passed Senate. *****To House.
Adopts the uniform electronic legal material act and the uniform certificate of title for vessels act.

MINNESOTA
H.B. 2527
Status: April 18, 2012; To Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
Relates to state government; enacts the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act approved by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.

S.B. 2476
Status: March 14, 2012; To Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
Relates to state government; enacts the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act approved by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.

RHODE ISLAND
H.B. 7750
Status: February 16, 2012; To House Committee on Judiciary.
Would create the "Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act" for the purpose of regulating the official publication of legal material in an electronic record. This act would take effect upon passage.

S.B. 2519
Status: March 8, 2012; In Senate Committee on Judiciary: Committee recommends measure to be held for further study.
Would create the "Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act" for the purpose of regulating the official publication of legal material in an electronic record. This act would take effect upon passage.

TENNESSEE
H.B. 3656
Status: February 1, 2012; In House Committee on Judiciary: Referred to General Subcommittee.
Relates to Uniform Laws; enacts the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act.

S.B. 2894
Status: March 14, 2012; In Senate Committee on Judiciary: Referred to General Subcommittee.
Relates to Uniform Laws; enacts the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act.

See also NCSL resources on digital preservation issues.  NCSL contact for more information: Pam Greenberg, NCSL Denver Office, 303-856-1413