Court reporting

The law creates another route for qualified reporters to meet California’s skills-test requirement while continuing limited testing of remote reporting in 13 superior courts.

What the law does ​

• Accepts the National Court Reporters Association’s Registered Professional Reporter certification as satisfying the state Dictation/Transcription licensing-exam requirement.
• Requires applicants using that credential to still pass California’s English and Professional Practice exam sections within three consecutive years.
• Extends authorized remote court-reporting pilots until July 1, 2028, with the law repealing January 1, 2029.
• Requires the Los Angeles, Mendocino, San Bernardino, San Mateo, and Tulare superior courts to submit pilot data and participant feedback to the Judicial Council.
• Requires the Judicial Council to submit its report and the courts’ individual reports to the Legislature by January 1, 2027.

Who it affects ​

• Applicants for California shorthand-reporter licenses.
• Licensed official court reporters and employees of the 13 participating superior courts.
• Parties and participants in eligible civil, family, probate, juvenile, and most criminal proceedings using remote reporting.

Context ​

The measure took effect immediately to avoid a gap before the prior pilot expiration date.

Breakdown ​

Accepting RPR Certification ​

This part of the bill adds another national certification that can meet the skills-testing portion of California's shorthand reporter licensing exam. Applicants who successfully complete the National Court Reporters Association's Registered Professional Reporter certification may use it to satisfy the Dictation/Transcription requirement.

Key takeaways

• The bill recognizes the Registered Professional Reporter certification administered by the National Court Reporters Association.
• Successful completion of the RPR certification can satisfy the Dictation/Transcription portion of the licensing examination.
• The bill adds the RPR certification alongside the already accepted CVR and CVR-S certifications.
• Applicants must still meet the other requirements for a California shorthand reporter license.

Remote Court Reporting Pilot Extension ​

The bill extends California's remote court reporting pilot program in 13 counties. It moves the deadline for ending the pilots to July 1, 2028, requires five named county courts to provide specified information to the Judicial Council, and sets an earlier reporting deadline for the council. The bill takes effect immediately.

Key takeaways

• The remote court reporting pilot projects may continue until July 1, 2028, instead of ending by July 1, 2026.
• The pilot-program provisions will be repealed on January 1, 2029, rather than June 1, 2027.
• The superior courts in Los Angeles, Mendocino, San Bernardino, San Mateo, and Tulare Counties must submit specified data and information to the Judicial Council.
• The Judicial Council must provide the information from those courts, along with its own report, to the Legislature by January 1, 2027.
• The bill takes effect immediately because it is an urgency statute.