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An Act
ENROLLED HOUSE
BILL NO. 3970 By: Caldwell (Trey) of the
House
and
Hall of the Senate
An Act relating to court reporters; amending 20 O.S.
2021, Sections 106.4, as amended by Section 1,
Chapter 100, O.S.L. 2023, and 106.9, as last amended
by Section 1, Chapter 263, O.S.L. 2023 (20 O.S. Supp.
2025, Sections 106.4 and 106.9), which relate to
court reporter duties and salaries; expanding
allowable means of court reporting; authorizing
certain remote availability; providing requirements
and authorizations for ordering transcripts;
clarifying language; increasing certain annual
salary; increasing number of certifications eligible
for certain payments; modifying continuing education
requirements; providing for suspension and
ineligibility for payments under certain conditions;
updating statutory language; amending 20 O.S. 2021,
Section 1503, which relates to shorthand reporter
examinations for certifications; modifying allowable
methods of shorthand reporting; providing an
effective date; and declaring an emergency.
SUBJECT: Court reporters
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 20 O.S. 2021, Section 106.4, as
amended by Section 1, Chapter 100, O.S.L. 2023 (20 O.S. Supp. 2025,
Section 106.4), is amended to read as follows:
Section 106.4. A. 1. The court reporter shall make a full
reporting by means of stenographic hand, steno-mask or, stenographic
machine notes, any other method of reporting authorized by the
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Supreme Court, or a combination thereof, of all proceedings,
including the statements of counsel and the court and the evidence,
in trials and other judicial proceedings to which the court reporter
is assigned by the appointing judge unless excused by the judge who
is trying the case with the consent of the parties to the action.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize the
certification of persons as certified shorthand reporters who rely
exclusively upon the steno-mask for reporting judicial proceedings,
except as provided by law. A refusal of the court to permit or to
require any statement to be taken down by the court reporter or
transcribed after being taken down, upon the same being shown by
affidavit or other direct and competent evidence, to the Supreme
Court, or other appellate court, shall constitute a denial of due
process of law. The court reporter may use an electronic instrument
as a supplementary device.
2. In any trial, hearing or proceedings, if no court reporter
is available to the assigned judge either remotely or in person:
a. the judge before whom the matter is being heard may
order the proceedings electronically recorded and a
trial or proceedings may proceed without the necessity
of a court reporter being present. Provided that if
an official transcript is ordered then it shall be
prepared by the official court reporter Any party may
order a transcript, provided that for use in any
subsequent trial, hearing, proceeding, or appeal, only
official transcripts prepared by an official court
reporter are permitted for any purpose, or
b. with approval of the judge, the parties may stipulate
to the use of a freelance reporter and share the cost.
If ordered, the transcript shall be prepared by the
approved reporter and shall be considered the official
transcript for all purposes.
B. 1. Upon request of either party in a civil or criminal
case, the reporter shall transcribe the proceedings in a trial or
other judicial proceeding, or so much thereof as may be requested by
the party, certify to the correctness of the transcript, and deliver
the same in accordance with the rules of the Supreme Court. The fee
for an original transcript shall be set by the Supreme Court. Two
copies of the original transcript shall be furnished without
additional charge. Each page shall be at least twenty-five lines to
the page and typed no fewer than nine characters to the typed inch.
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Each page shall be no more than double spaced and the margin on the
left side of the page shall be no more than one and one-half (1 1/2)
inches and the margin on the right side of the page shall be no more
than one-half (1/2) inch from the edge of the paper. The format for
all transcripts shall be prescribed by the Supreme Court. The fees
for making the transcript shall be paid in the first instance by the
party requesting the transcript and shall be taxed as costs in the
suit.
2. When the judge on his or her own motion orders a transcript
of the reporter’s notes, the judge may direct the payment of charges
and the taxation of the charges as costs in such manner as the court
deems appropriate. In a criminal action, if the defendant shall
present to the judge an affidavit that the defendant intends in good
faith to take an appeal in the case and that a transcript of the
reporter’s notes is necessary to enable the defendant to prosecute
the appeal, and that he or she has not the means to pay for the
transcript, the court, upon finding that there is reasonable basis
for the averment, shall order the transcript made at the expense of
the district court fund. The format preparation, delivery, and
filing of transcripts to be used in civil and criminal appeals may
be regulated by the Supreme Court.
C. The court reporter shall file his or her records of the
evidence and the proceedings taken in any case with the clerk of the
court in which the case was tried.
D. To the extent that it does not substantially interfere with
the court reporter’s other official duties, the judge by whom a
reporter is employed or to whom he or she is assigned may assign a
reporter to secretarial or clerical duties arising out of official
court operations.
SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 20 O.S. 2021, Section 106.9, as
last amended by Section 1, Chapter 263, O.S.L. 2023 (20 O.S. Supp.
2025, Section 106.9), is amended to read as follows:
Section 106.9. A. Each court reporter regularly engaged by the
district court, the Workers’ Compensation Court of Existing Claims,
or the Corporation Commission shall be paid a salary pursuant to the
salary schedule established by the annual appropriation for the
district courts and Corporation Commission and in accordance with
the job description for the position to which appointed. For fiscal
year 2023 and each fiscal year thereafter, each court reporter shall
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receive an annual salary of Fifty-three Thousand Dollars
($53,000.00) Sixty-five Thousand Dollars ($65,000.00).
B. In addition to their base salaries, official court reporters
who are certified or licensed shorthand reporters and those acting
shorthand reporters pursuant to paragraph 3 of Section 106.3B of
this title shall be paid annually the sum of Four Hundred Dollars
($400.00) for each year of service to the district court, the
Workers’ Compensation Court, the Workers’ Compensation Court of
Existing Claims and the Corporation Commission, with a maximum of
twenty (20) years of service only to be used for the purpose of
longevity, not to exceed Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000.00) per
year, payable monthly. For the purpose of payment for longevity,
“years of service” is defined as all years served as a certified or
licensed court reporter in the district court, the Workers’
Compensation Court, the Workers’ Compensation Court of Existing
Claims and the Corporation Commission after June 30, 1978.
Longevity payments shall be made on July 1 of each year following
completion of the first year of service as defined herein.
C. In addition to their base salaries, official court reporters
eligible for longevity payments pursuant to subsection B of this
section shall be paid an annual equipment allowance of Three
Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00). Payments for such allowance shall be
made on July 1 of each year following completion of the first year
of service as defined in subsection B of this section.
D. In addition to their base salaries, official court reporters
who are certified shorthand reporters shall be paid the following:
1. The sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) per year,
payable monthly, to any official court reporter who is holds one or
more of the following certifications:
a. a Registered Professional Reporter (RPR), as
recognized by the State Board of Examiners of
Certified Shorthand Reporters. To qualify as a RPR,
an official court reporter shall have National Court
Reporters Association (NCRA),
b. a Certified Verbatim Reporter (CVR), as recognized by
the National Verbatim Reporters Association (NVRA),
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c. a Certified Verbatim Reporter – Stenotype (CVR-S), as
recognized by the National Verbatim Reporters
Association (NVRA), or
d. other certifications authorized by the Supreme Court
that demonstrate a proficiency level in reporting
testimony and proceedings of a speed of not less than
two hundred twenty-five (225) words per minute in
taking a question-and-answer-type dictation, two
hundred (200) words per minute in taking a jury
charge, and one hundred eighty (180) words per minute
in taking literary material,. In addition, the
individual shall pass a the Oklahoma Written Knowledge
Test with a score of at least seventy percent (70%),
all as determined by an examination recognized by the
Board, and shall complete thirty (30) hours of
continuing education per three-year cycle commencing
at the date of recognition as directed by the Supreme
Court;
2. The sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) per year,
payable monthly, to any official court reporter who is holds one or
more of the following certifications:
a. a Registered Merit Reporter (RMR), as recognized by
the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand
Reporters. To qualify as a RMR, an official court
reporter shall have National Court Reporters
Association (NCRA),
b. a Certificate of Merit (CM) or Certificate of Merit –
Stenotype (CM-S), as recognized by the National
Verbatim Reporters Association (NVRA), or
c. other certifications authorized by the Supreme Court
that demonstrate a proficiency level in reporting
testimony and proceedings of a speed of not less than
two hundred sixty (260) words per minute in taking a
question-and-answer-type dictation, two hundred forty
(240) words per minute in taking a jury charge, and
two hundred (200) words per minute in taking literary
material,. In addition, the individual shall pass a
the Oklahoma Written Knowledge Test with a score of at
least seventy percent (70%), all as determined by an
examination recognized by the Board, and shall
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complete thirty (30) hours of continuing education per
three-year cycle commencing at the date of recognition
as directed by the Supreme Court;
3. The sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) per year,
payable monthly, to any official court reporter who is holds a
certification as a Registered Diplomat Diplomate Reporter (RDR), as
recognized by the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand
Reporters, and who completes thirty (30) hours of continuing
education per three-year cycle commencing at the date of recognition
National Court Reporters Association (NCRA);
4. The sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) per year,
payable monthly, to any official court reporter who is holds one or
more of the following certifications:
a. a Certified Realtime Reporter (CRR), as recognized by
the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand
Reporters, and who completes thirty (30) hours of
continuing education per three-year cycle commencing
at the date of recognition; National Court Reporters
Association (NCRA), or
b. a Realtime Verbatim Reporter – Master (RVR-M) or
Realtime Verbatim Reporter – Master – Stenotype (RVR-
M-S), as recognized by the National Verbatim Reporters
Association (NVRA);
5. Any official court reporter who is the holder of more than
one certification shall be compensated in the additional amounts
specified in paragraphs 1 through 4 of this subsection for each
certification up to a maximum of Eight Thousand Dollars ($8,000.00)
per year over and above the reporter’s base salary, payable monthly;
and
6. In the event of a lapse in a court reporter’s certification,
compensation for certification that is greater than his or her
salary shall be suspended until the certification is renewed or
reinstated. Compensation shall not be due to a court reporter for
any period during which his or her certification is not in good
standing.
E. Court reporters temporarily employed by the district court,
Workers’ Compensation Court of Existing Claims, or Corporation
Commission shall be compensated by the court fund of the court which
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they serve at a rate to be set by such court. In addition, court
reporters temporarily employed pursuant to this subsection who are
required by the terms of their employment to travel outside their
county of residence shall receive reimbursement for mileage actually
and necessarily traveled to and from the place of attendance at a
rate not to exceed the rate of reimbursement specified in the State
Travel Reimbursement Act for state employees. Any travel
reimbursement shall be paid from the court fund of the court where
the service of the temporarily employed court reporter is provided.
SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 20 O.S. 2021, Section 1503, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 1503. A. Every applicant who seeks to be examined for
enrollment as a certified shorthand reporter shall prove to the
satisfaction of the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand
Reporters that he or she:
1. Is of legal age;
2. Meets the requisite standards of ethical fitness; and
3. Has at least a high school education or its equivalent.
B. The examination for certification in one or more authorized
methods of shorthand reporting consists of two parts, designated
Part 1 and Part 2 as follows:
1. Part 1 consists of the test as authorized by the Supreme
Court consisting of the following requirements: demonstrated
proficiency in reporting testimony and proceedings at a speed of not
more than two hundred (200) words per minute in taking a question-
and-answer type dictation and at a speed of not more than one
hundred eighty (180) words per minute in taking literary materials
which shall be designed to test the ability of an applicant to
accurately prepare a transcript of testimony and proceedings that is
reasonably free from spelling errors. The Board may not increase or
decrease such minimum speed requirement, by rule or otherwise; and
2. Part 2 is the Oklahoma Written Knowledge test which consists
of not less than twenty-five multiple choice questions relating to
Oklahoma law and court rules, duties of certified shorthand
reporters, and general court procedure. The examination shall be
approved by the Supreme Court. A person who has tested with the
Board and successfully completed the written knowledge portion of
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the examination shall be allowed to retain the credit for that
portion for two (2) years from the date passed, and shall not be
required to retake that portion during the two-year period.
C. An applicant who is academically dishonest when taking any
authorized examination is disqualified and may not take the
examination again until two (2) years have elapsed from the date of
the examination at which the applicant was disqualified.
D. A certification issued under this section must be for one or
more of the following methods of shorthand reporting:
1. Written shorthand;
2. Machine shorthand; or
2. Steno-mask shorthand; or
3. Any other method of shorthand reporting authorized by the
Supreme Court.
E. No person may engage in shorthand reporting in this state
unless the person is a licensed or certified shorthand reporter or
otherwise authorized by law or the Supreme Court.
SECTION 4. This act shall become effective July 1, 2026.
SECTION 5. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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Passed the House of Representatives the 6th day of May, 2026.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the 27th day of April, 2026.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
_________________________________
Governor of the State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________