Criminal procedure; providing limitations on the use of grand jury transcripts; effective date.

HB 1568 restricts access to grand jury transcripts to prevent misuse. It requires court approval for releasing transcripts to defense attorneys, prosecutors, or witnesses, and prohibits using them in unrelated civil cases. The bill mandates sealed court filings for transcript requests and closed hearings unless public interest outweighs secrecy needs. Violating these rules is a misdemeanor, and the law explicitly bans attorneys from using transcripts to benefit or harm parties in civil cases related to the original investigation. This directly affects legal teams, witnesses, and courts handling criminal and related civil proceedings.