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SB 2899

Court reporters; increase authorized salary for.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Sarita Simmons and 1 co-sponsor

SB 2899 raises circuit/chancery reporters’ salaries (tiered by experience) with state funding; counties must transfer funds; allows limited freelance work; effective July 1, 2025.

Approved by Governor
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Bill Summary · SB 2899

SB 2899 — Summary

Status: Approved by Governor
Introduced: March 14, 2025
Effective date: July 1, 2025
Companion bill: HB 5391

Purpose

SB 2899 updates Section 9-13-19 of the Mississippi Code to (1) increase the authorized annual salaries for circuit and chancery court reporters, (2) clarify pay administration and county/state funding responsibilities, and (3) permit certain freelance reporting activities by official court reporters under specified conditions.

Key provisions

  • Authorized annual salary tiers (payable by the Administrative Office of Courts):
    • Up to $59,400 for reporters with ≤ 5 years’ experience
    • Up to $70,200 for reporters with > 5 but < 10 years’ experience
    • Up to $76,800 for reporters with ≥ 10 years’ experience
  • The maximum salary amounts are to be paid from the State General Fund.
  • Counties (board of supervisors) must transfer proportionate amounts from county general funds to the Administrative Office of Courts to be applied toward the reporter’s annual compensation (including any extra pay for court-administrator duties). The county share is calculated by the number of weeks court is held in that county relative to the total weeks in the judicial district (e.g., 5 of 38 weeks = 5/38).
  • Payment mechanics:
    • Reporters’ salary and any additional court-administrator compensation paid in 12 installments on the last working day of each month after proper judicial authorization and minute entry.
    • Counties must transfer 1/12 of their required payment to the Administrative Office of Courts by the 20th of each month; optionally a county may prepay the full 12 months by January 20.
  • Additional compensation: A reporter who performs court-administrator duties for the same judicial district may receive additional pay; amount determined by vote of the judges/chancellors (considering hours worked) and submitted to the Administrative Office of Courts for approval.
  • Retirement reporting: “Compensation” (gross salary and employment-related benefits) generally must be reported for retirement credit. Transcript fees and expense reimbursements for freelance activities are excluded from retirement reporting.
  • Travel and mileage for official duties: Paid by the county at the state employee rate (Section 25-3-41); reporters file mileage certificates with the clerk and are paid on allowance by the judge.
  • Employment rules and limits:
    • Court reporters remain employees of the Administrative Office of Courts (status continued under existing language).
    • A court reporter cannot practice law in the court in which they serve.
    • Freelance reporting: Official court reporters may engage in freelance reporting provided:
    • The freelance matter is not under the jurisdiction of the court where they are appointed;
    • The reporter has no delinquent work for their court and their attendance is not required there.
    • Limitations on freelance activity:
    • No travel or other freelance-related expenses shall be reimbursed by the court, the Administrative Office of Courts, or any government employer.
    • No government-owned equipment may be used for freelance reporting.

Who is affected

  • Circuit and chancery court reporters (salary, duties, ability to freelance with conditions)
  • Administrative Office of Courts (salary disbursement and approval of additional compensation)
  • County governments and boards of supervisors (funding transfers proportionate to court weeks; mileage obligations)
  • Judges and chancellors (authorize additional compensation and minute orders)
  • Public retirement system (reporting and crediting of compensation)

Procedural notes / timeline

  • The bill as amended was adopted by the Legislature and approved by the Governor. It takes effect July 1, 2025.
  • House amendments clarified freelance reporting rules, prohibited reimbursement and use of government equipment for freelance work, and confirmed the effective date language.

Potential impacts to consider

  • Increased state General Fund outlays to cover higher maximum salaries.
  • County budget impacts because counties must transfer proportional shares to the Administrative Office of Courts; counties may experience increased costs where they host more court weeks.
  • Greater flexibility for court reporters to earn outside income through freelance work, subject to restrictions intended to avoid conflicts of interest and use of public resources.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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