OklahomaJudges may record cases or approve freelance court reporters
When no court reporter is available, a judge may let proceedings continue with an electronic recording or approve a freelance reporter if the parties agree to share the cost.
What it does
When no court reporter is available, a judge may let a proceeding continue with an electronic recording. The parties may use a freelance reporter if the judge approves and they agree to share the cost.
The printed salary is $65,000 a year for covered regular court reporters, subject to the annual appropriation and the job description for their position.
Covered reporters may receive longevity pay, an equipment allowance, and payments for listed certifications. Certification payments are limited by an annual cap and stop while a credential is not in good standing.
Argument forJudges could keep proceedings moving when no reporter is available by recording them electronically or approving a freelance reporter.
Argument againstParties may have to share a freelance reporter’s cost if they choose that option and the judge approves it.
More detail
A judge may order an electronic recording or, with the parties’ agreement, approve a freelance reporter. This applies when no court reporter is available to the assigned judge, either remotely or in person. Using a freelance reporter requires the judge’s approval and the parties’ agreement to share the cost. If a reporter is unavailable, the judge may allow the proceeding to continue without one.
The text sets a $65,000 annual salary for each regularly engaged court reporter covered by this section. This applies to court reporters regularly engaged by district courts, the Workers’ Compensation Court of Existing Claims, or the Corporation Commission. The salary is paid under the schedule established by the annual appropriation and the job description for the position.
The text provides additional annual payments for service and listed certifications, plus an equipment allowance for reporters eligible for longevity payments. These payments apply to official court reporters who meet the service or certification conditions in the text. Longevity pay is $400 for each year of qualifying service, up to 20 years and $8,000 a year; the equipment allowance is $3,000 a year. Listed certifications may qualify for $2,000 a year each, up to $8,000 above base salary. Certification pay is suspended during a lapse, and is not due while a certification is not in good standing. Longevity and equipment payments start July 1 after the reporter completes the first year of qualifying service. Payments are made annually or monthly as specified in the text.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 12Approved by Governor Kevin Stitt 05/12/2026Became Law
- May 6Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- Vote recorded Fourth Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Enrolled measure signed, returned to House
- May 6Enrolled, signed, to Senate
- May 6Referred for enrollment
- May 6Fourth Reading, Measure and Emergency Passed: Ayes: 85 Nays: 0Major
- May 6SA's read, adoptedMajor
- Apr 28SA's received
- Apr 28Engrossed to HouseMajor
- Apr 27Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 27Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 47 Nays: 0Major
- Apr 27General Order, Amended by Floor Substitute
- Apr 13Placed on General Order
- Apr 13Withdrawn from Appropriations committee
- Apr 7Referred to AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded Judiciary. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 7Emergency added
- Apr 7Reported Do Pass as amended Judiciary committee; CR filedMinor
- Apr 1Second Reading referred to Judiciary Committee then to Appropriations CommitteeMinor
- Mar 12First ReadingMinor
- Mar 12Engrossed, signed, to SenatePassed Senate
- Mar 11Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 89 Nays: 0Passed House
- Mar 11General Order
- Feb 19Emergency removed
- Feb 19Authored by Senator Hall (principal Senate author)
- Feb 19CR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Appropriations and Budget CommitteeMinor
- Feb 17
- Vote recorded Appropriations And Budget Committee: Do Pass As Amended By Cs. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 3Second Reading referred to Appropriations and BudgetMinor
- Feb 2Authored by Representative Caldwell (Trey)
- Feb 2First ReadingIntroduced
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