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AB 2783

Court reporting.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ali Macedo

Extends court reporting pathways to accept RPR certification for dictation/transcription and broadens a remote reporting pilot across more counties, with data-led sunset.

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.
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Bill Summary · AB 2783

Summary of AB 2783 (2025-2026) – Court Reporting

Purpose and Intent

AB 2783, introduced by the Assembly Judiciary Committee and amended in April 2026, extends and modifies California’s framework for court reporting, focusing on two main areas:
1) Licensing exam pathways for court reporters, by expanding acceptable certifications to satisfy the Dictation/Transcription portion.
2) Extending and expanding the remote court reporting pilot program to study and implement the use of remote reporters in specified courts and proceedings, with careful data collection and sunset/ repeal provisions.

The bill is enacted as an urgency statute, taking effect immediately.

Key Provisions

1) Licensing Pathway for Dictation/Transcription

  • Amends Section 8020.5 of the Business and Professions Code.
  • Current law allows passing CVR or CVR-S (National Verbatim Reporters Association) to satisfy the Dictation/Transcription portion.
  • AB 2783 adds:
    • Successful completion of the Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) certification (National Court Reporters Association) also satisfies the Dictation/Transcription requirement.
  • Other licensing mechanics remain intact, including:
    • A three-part licensing exam: English, Professional Practice (written portions), and Dictation/Transcription.
    • The Dictation/Transcription passing grade set at 95%.
    • A three-year window to pass all three parts, with repeat opportunities and conditional credit for partial passes.
  • Certification holders (CVR, CVR-S, or RPR) must still complete English and Professional Practice within the three-year window.

2) Extended Remote Court Reporting Pilot Program

  • Amends Section 69959.5 of the Government Code.
  • Extends and expands the existing remote court reporting pilot program across additional counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Mendocino, Monterey, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Tulare, and Ventura).
  • Key pilot details:
    • Initiation: July 1, 2025.
    • Participants: Full-time official reporters licensed under BPC 8024 with at least two years of California courtroom experience.
    • Location: Reporters must be physically present in a court facility, though offsite locations may be testable via agreement by June 30, 2025.
    • Cap on participation: No more than 20% of full-time reporters in a participating court (or 2 reporters for courts with fewer than 10). In counties with 2,000,000+ population, cap is 10%.
    • Equipment requirements: By June 30, 2025, courts must equip rooms with microphones, cameras (frontal view for participants; jury box camera disabled when jurors are present), speakers, and two-way communication tools, with reporters able to mute/unmute their audio.
    • Scope of use: Remote reporting may be used in limited civil, law and motion, unlimited civil, family law, child support, probate, juvenile cases, and some criminal cases (excluding preliminary hearings, trials, and death-penalty matters).
    • Transcripts and fees: Transcripts produced remotely may be used as standard transcripts; fees for reporters and transcript preparation remain the same as in-person proceedings.
    • Accountability and protections: Reporters are not responsible for technology failures; courts must pause proceedings in case of tech/audibility issues without retaliation against reporters.
    • Data collection and reporting: Each court must submit data to the Judicial Council, including feedback from judges, reporters, attorneys, and prosecutors/public defenders. The Judicial Council will compile results and provide a Legislature report within six months after pilot completion.
  • Sunset and repeal:
    • All pilots must terminate by July 1, 2028.
    • Provisions remain in effect only until January 1, 2029 (repeal date).

Affected Parties and Impacts

  • Court Reporters: Expanded认可 of RPR for licensing; participation in remote reporting pilots under defined rules.
  • Law Courts and Judicial System: Access to remote court reporting in specified proceedings, with equipment and operational standards; potential changes to workflow and scheduling.
  • Legal Practitioners: Attorneys, public defenders, and district attorneys receive remote-recording options; data collection will inform potential broader adoption.
  • Public: Potentially increased efficiency and access to verbatim records, with immediate effect due to urgency clause.

Procedural and Timeline Highlights

  • Immediate effect as an urgency statute.
  • Licensing changes: Effective upon enactment.
  • Remote reporting pilots: Starting July 1, 2025; extended through July 1, 2028; repeal January 1, 2029.
  • Regular reporting to Legislature: Judicial Council to prepare a comprehensive results report within six months after pilot conclusion.

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

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