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1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
3 HOUSE BILL 3970 By: Caldwell (Trey)
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5
6
7 AS INTRODUCED
8 An Act relating to court reporters; amending 20 O.S.
2021, Section 106.4, as amended by Section 1, Chapter
9 100, O.S.L. 2023 and Section 106.9, as last amended
by Section 1, Chapter 263, O.S.L. 2023 (20 O.S. Supp.
10 2025, Sections 106.4 and 106.9), which relate to
court reporter duties and salaries; expanding
11 allowable means of court reporting; authorizing
certain remote availability; providing requirements
12 and authorizations for ordering transcripts;
clarifying language; updating statutory outline;
13 increasing number of certifications eligible for
certain payments; modifying continuing education
14 requirements; providing for suspension and
ineligibility for payments under certain conditions;
15 amending 20 O.S. 2021, Section 1503, which relates to
shorthand reporter examinations for certifications;
16 reducing and expanding allowable methods of shorthand
reporting; and declaring an emergency.
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19 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
20 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 20 O.S. 2021, Section 106.4, as
21 amended by Section 1, Chapter 100, O.S.L. 2023 (20 O.S. Supp. 2025,
22 Section 106.4), is amended to read as follows:
23 Section 106.4. A. 1. The court reporter shall make a full
24 reporting by means of stenographic hand, steno-mask or, stenographic
Req. No. 13991 Page 1
1 machine notes, any other method of reporting authorized by the
2 Supreme Court, or a combination thereof, of all proceedings,
3 including the statements of counsel and the court and the evidence,
4 in trials and other judicial proceedings to which the court reporter
5 is assigned by the appointing judge unless excused by the judge who
6 is trying the case with the consent of the parties to the action.
7 Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize the
8 certification of persons as certified shorthand reporters who rely
9 exclusively upon the steno-mask for reporting judicial proceedings,
10 except as provided by law. A refusal of the court to permit or to
11 require any statement to be taken down by the court reporter or
12 transcribed after being taken down, upon the same being shown by
13 affidavit or other direct and competent evidence, to the Supreme
14 Court, or other appellate court, shall constitute a denial of due
15 process of law. The court reporter may use an electronic instrument
16 as a supplementary device.
17 2. In any trial, hearing or proceedings, if no court reporter
18 is available to the assigned judge either remotely or in person:
19 a. the judge before whom the matter is being heard may
20 order the proceedings electronically recorded and a
21 trial or proceedings may proceed without the necessity
22 of a court reporter being present. Provided that if
23 an official transcript is ordered then it shall be
24 prepared by the official court reporter Any party may
Req. No. 13991 Page 2
1 order a transcript, provided that for use in any
2 subsequent trial, hearing, proceeding, or appeal, only
3 official transcripts prepared by an official court
4 reporter are permitted for any purpose, or
5 b. with approval of the judge, the parties may stipulate
6 to the use of a freelance reporter and share the cost.
7 If ordered, the transcript shall be prepared by the
8 approved reporter and shall be considered the official
9 transcript for all purposes.
10 B. 1. Upon request of either party in a civil or criminal
11 case, the reporter shall transcribe the proceedings in a trial or
12 other judicial proceeding, or so much thereof as may be requested by
13 the party, certify to the correctness of the transcript, and deliver
14 the same in accordance with the rules of the Supreme Court. The fee
15 for an original transcript shall be set by the Supreme Court. Two
16 copies of the original transcript shall be furnished without
17 additional charge. Each page shall be at least twenty-five lines to
18 the page and typed no fewer than nine characters to the typed inch.
19 Each page shall be no more than double spaced and the margin on the
20 left side of the page shall be no more than one and one-half (1 1/2)
21 inches and the margin on the right side of the page shall be no more
22 than one-half (1/2) inch from the edge of the paper. The format for
23 all transcripts shall be prescribed by the Supreme Court. The fees
24 for making the transcript shall be paid in the first instance by the
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1 party requesting the transcript and shall be taxed as costs in the
2 suit.
3 2. When the judge on his or her own motion orders a transcript
4 of the reporter's notes, the judge may direct the payment of charges
5 and the taxation of the charges as costs in such manner as the court
6 deems appropriate. In a criminal action, if the defendant shall
7 present to the judge an affidavit that the defendant intends in good
8 faith to take an appeal in the case and that a transcript of the
9 reporter's notes is necessary to enable the defendant to prosecute
10 the appeal, and that he or she has not the means to pay for the
11 transcript, the court, upon finding that there is reasonable basis
12 for the averment, shall order the transcript made at the expense of
13 the district court fund. The format preparation, delivery, and
14 filing of transcripts to be used in civil and criminal appeals may
15 be regulated by the Supreme Court.
16 C. The court reporter shall file his or her records of the
17 evidence and the proceedings taken in any case with the clerk of the
18 court in which the case was tried.
19 D. To the extent that it does not substantially interfere with
20 the court reporter's other official duties, the judge by whom a
21 reporter is employed or to whom he or she is assigned may assign a
22 reporter to secretarial or clerical duties arising out of official
23 court operations.
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1 SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 20 O.S. 2021, Section 106.9, as
2 last amended by Section 1, Chapter 263, O.S.L. 2023 (20 O.S. Supp.
3 2025, Section 106.9), is amended to read as follows:
4 Section 106.9. A. Each court reporter regularly engaged by the
5 district court, the Workers' Compensation Court of Existing Claims,
6 or the Corporation Commission shall be paid a salary pursuant to the
7 salary schedule established by the annual appropriation for the
8 district courts and Corporation Commission and in accordance with
9 the job description for the position to which appointed. For fiscal
10 year 2023 and each fiscal year thereafter, each court reporter shall
11 receive an annual salary of Fifty-three Thousand Dollars
12 ($53,000.00).
13 B. In addition to their base salaries, official court reporters
14 who are certified or licensed shorthand reporters and those acting
15 shorthand reporters pursuant to paragraph 3 of Section 106.3B of
16 this title shall be paid annually the sum of Four Hundred Dollars
17 ($400.00) for each year of service to the district court, the
18 Workers' Compensation Court, the Workers' Compensation Court of
19 Existing Claims and the Corporation Commission, with a maximum of
20 twenty (20) years of service only to be used for the purpose of
21 longevity, not to exceed Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000.00) per
22 year, payable monthly. For the purpose of payment for longevity,
23 "years of service" is defined as all years served as a certified or
24 licensed court reporter in the district court, the Workers'
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1 Compensation Court, the Workers' Compensation Court of Existing
2 Claims and the Corporation Commission after June 30, 1978.
3 Longevity payments shall be made on July 1 of each year following
4 completion of the first year of service as defined herein.
5 C. In addition to their base salaries, official court reporters
6 eligible for longevity payments pursuant to subsection B of this
7 section shall be paid an annual equipment allowance of Three
8 Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00). Payments for such allowance shall be
9 made on July 1 of each year following completion of the first year
10 of service as defined in subsection B of this section.
11 D. In addition to their base salaries, official court reporters
12 who are certified shorthand reporters shall be paid the following:
13 1. The sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) per year,
14 payable monthly, to any official court reporter who is holds one or
15 more of the following certifications:
16 a. a Registered Professional Reporter (RPR), as
17 recognized by the State Board of Examiners of
18 Certified Shorthand Reporters. To qualify as a RPR,
19 an official court reporter shall have National Court
20 Reporters Association (NCRA),
21 b. a Certified Verbatim Reporter (CVR), as recognized by
22 the National Verbatim Reporters Association (NVRA),
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1 c. a Certified Verbatim Reporter � Stenotype (CVR-S), as
2 recognized by the National Verbatim Reporters
3 Association (NVRA), or
4 d. other certifications authorized by the Supreme Court
5 that demonstrate a proficiency level in reporting
6 testimony and proceedings of a speed of not less than
7 two hundred twenty-five (225) words per minute in
8 taking a question-and-answer-type dictation, two
9 hundred (200) words per minute in taking a jury
10 charge, and one hundred eighty (180) words per minute
11 in taking literary material,. In addition, the
12 individual shall pass a the Oklahoma Written Knowledge
13 Test with a score of at least seventy percent (70%),
14 all as determined by an examination recognized by the
15 Board, and shall complete thirty (30) hours of
16 continuing education per three-year cycle commencing
17 at the date of recognition as directed by the Supreme
18 Court;
19 2. The sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) per year,
20 payable monthly, to any official court reporter who is holds one or
21 more of the following certifications:
22 a. a Registered Merit Reporter (RMR), as recognized by
23 the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand
24 Reporters. To qualify as a RMR, an official court
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1 reporter shall have National Court Reporters
2 Association (NCRA),
3 b. a Certificate of Merit (CM) or Certificate of Merit
4 Skills (CM-S), as recognized by the National Verbatim
5 Reporters Association (NVRA), or
6 c. other certifications authorized by the Supreme Court
7 that demonstrate a proficiency-level in reporting
8 testimony and proceedings of a speed of not less than
9 two hundred sixty (260) words per minute in taking a
10 question-and-answer-type dictation, two hundred forty
11 (240) words per minute in taking a jury charge, and
12 two hundred (200) words per minute in taking literary
13 material,. In addition, the individual shall pass a
14 the Oklahoma Written Knowledge Test with a score of at
15 least seventy percent (70%), all as determined by an
16 examination recognized by the Board, and shall
17 complete thirty (30) hours of continuing education per
18 three-year cycle commencing at the date of recognition
19 as directed by the Supreme Court;
20 3. The sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) per year,
21 payable monthly, to any official court reporter who is holds a
22 certification as a Registered Diplomat Reporter (RDR), as recognized
23 by the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters,
24 and who completes thirty (30) hours of continuing education per
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1 three-year cycle commencing at the date of recognition National
2 Court Reporters Association (NCRA);
3 4. The sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) per year,
4 payable monthly, to any official court reporter who is holds one or
5 more of the following certifications:
6 a. a Certified Realtime Reporter (CRR), as recognized by
7 the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand
8 Reporters, and who completes thirty (30) hours of
9 continuing education per three-year cycle commencing
10 at the date of recognition; National Court Reporters
11 Association (NCRA), or
12 b. a Realtime Verbatim Reporter Master (RVR-M) or
13 Realtime Verbatim Reporter Master Stenotype (RVR-M-S),
14 as recognized by the National Verbatim Reporters
15 Association (NVRA);
16 5. Any official court reporter who is the holder of more than
17 one certification shall be compensated in the additional amounts
18 specified in paragraphs 1 through 4 of this subsection for each
19 certification up to a maximum of Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000.00)
20 per year over and above the reporter's base salary, payable monthly;
21 6. In the event of a lapse in a court reporter's certification,
22 compensation for certification which is over and above his or her
23 salary shall be suspended until the certification is renewed or
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1 reinstated. Compensation shall not be due to a court reporter for
2 any period during which their certification is not in good standing.
3 E. Court reporters temporarily employed by the district court,
4 Workers' Compensation Court of Existing Claims, or Corporation
5 Commission shall be compensated by the court fund of the court which
6 they serve at a rate to be set by such court. In addition, court
7 reporters temporarily employed pursuant to this subsection who are
8 required by the terms of their employment to travel outside their
9 county of residence shall receive reimbursement for mileage actually
10 and necessarily traveled to and from the place of attendance at a
11 rate not to exceed the rate of reimbursement specified in the State
12 Travel Reimbursement Act for state employees. Any travel
13 reimbursement shall be paid from the court fund of the court where
14 the service of the temporarily employed court reporter is provided.
15 SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 20 O.S. 2021, Section 1503, is
16 amended to read as follows:
17 Section 1503. A. Every applicant who seeks to be examined for
18 enrollment as a certified shorthand reporter shall prove to the
19 satisfaction of the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand
20 Reporters that he or she:
21 1. Is of legal age;
22 2. Meets the requisite standards of ethical fitness; and
23 3. Has at least a high school education or its equivalent.
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Req. No. 13991 Page 10
1 B. The examination for certification in one or more authorized
2 methods of shorthand reporting consists of two parts, designated
3 Part 1 and Part 2 as follows:
4 1. Part 1 consists of the test as authorized by the Supreme
5 Court consisting of the following requirements: demonstrated
6 proficiency in reporting testimony and proceedings at a speed of not
7 more than two hundred (200) words per minute in taking a question-
8 and-answer type dictation and at a speed of not more than one
9 hundred eighty (180) words per minute in taking literary materials
10 which shall be designed to test the ability of an applicant to
11 accurately prepare a transcript of testimony and proceedings that is
12 reasonably free from spelling errors. The Board may not increase or
13 decrease such minimum speed requirement, by rule or otherwise; and
14 2. Part 2 is the Oklahoma Written Knowledge test which consists
15 of not less than twenty-five multiple choice questions relating to
16 Oklahoma law and court rules, duties of certified shorthand
17 reporters, and general court procedure. The examination shall be
18 approved by the Supreme Court. A person who has tested with the
19 Board and successfully completed the written knowledge portion of
20 the examination shall be allowed to retain the credit for that
21 portion for two (2) years from the date passed, and shall not be
22 required to retake that portion during the two-year period.
23 C. An applicant who is academically dishonest when taking any
24 authorized examination is disqualified and may not take the
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1 examination again until two (2) years have elapsed from the date of
2 the examination at which the applicant was disqualified.
3 D. A certification issued under this section must be for one or
4 more of the following methods of shorthand reporting:
5 1. Written shorthand;
6 2. Machine shorthand; or
7 2. Steno-mask shorthand; or
8 3. Any other method of shorthand reporting authorized by the
9 Supreme Court.
10 E. No person may engage in shorthand reporting in this state
11 unless the person is a licensed or certified shorthand reporter or
12 otherwise authorized by law or the Supreme Court.
13 SECTION 4. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
14 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
15 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
16 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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18 60-2-13991 JM 12/19/25
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