HB3585 makes several changes to Oklahoma court administration law, focused on court reporters and secretary-bailiffs. It expands the methods a court reporter may use to create the official record of proceedings, expressly allowing reporting by stenographic hand, steno-mask, stenographic machine notes, or other methods authorized by the Supreme Court, and clarifies what happens when no court reporter is available. In that situation, a judge may order proceedings electronically recorded, or the parties may stipulate to a freelance reporter with court approval, with the resulting transcript treated as the official transcript if ordered.
The bill also revises the certification and compensation structure for court reporters. It updates the examination statute to recognize certification in one or more authorized shorthand reporting methods, including written shorthand, machine shorthand, steno-mask shorthand, and other Supreme Court-authorized methods. It changes salary provisions by increasing the base annual salary for regularly employed court reporters from $53,000 to $70,000 beginning in fiscal year 2027, and increases the base annual salary for secretary-bailiffs from $42,000 to $60,000 beginning in fiscal year 2027. The bill also raises and reorganizes additional compensation tied to certain professional certifications, including Registered Professional Reporter, Registered Merit Reporter, Registered Diplomat Reporter, Certified Realtime Reporter, and related credentials.
HB3585 further modifies the continuing education and certification rules for court reporters. It removes some continuing-education language from the salary statute, while authorizing the Supreme Court to direct continuing education requirements and suspending certification-based pay if a reporter’s certification lapses. The bill also clarifies that compensation for certification is not owed during any period when the certification is not in good standing. These changes affect the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters, the Supreme Court, district courts, the Workers’ Compensation Court of Existing Claims, and the Corporation Commission.
The general sentiment reflected in the available legislative history appears favorable. The bill received a 6-0 do pass recommendation, as amended, from the House Appropriations and Budget Judiciary Subcommittee, suggesting broad support at the committee level. No opposing testimony or recorded floor debate is provided in the materials, so the available record shows little visible controversy at this stage.
The main points of potential contention are fiscal and professional-standards related. The salary increases for court reporters and secretary-bailiffs, along with expanded certification pay, would increase court personnel costs and may draw scrutiny in budget discussions. There may also be policy debate over the expanded use of electronic recording and freelance reporters, as well as the removal of the prohibition on certification for persons relying exclusively on steno-mask, which could affect professional standards and the role of certified shorthand reporters.
HB3585 amends multiple provisions of Title 20 governing court reporters, shorthand reporter certification, and secretary-bailiff compensation. It raises statutory salary floors, expands eligibility for certification-based pay, updates examination and certification language, and authorizes additional recording methods and electronic recording when a court reporter is unavailable. The bill would directly affect court reporters, secretary-bailiffs, the Supreme Court, the State Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters, and the courts that employ or compensate these personnel.
The limited voting history indicates positive committee sentiment, with the House Appropriations and Budget Judiciary Subcommittee voting 6-0 to do pass the bill as amended. That suggests the proposal was viewed as a workable update to court staffing, compensation, and recording procedures. No committee transcript or recorded opposition is included, so there is no evidence in the provided materials of organized resistance at this stage.
The most likely areas of contention are cost and professional regulation. The bill increases salaries for court reporters and secretary-bailiffs and expands certification-related compensation, which could raise appropriations concerns. It also broadens acceptable recording methods, allows electronic recording when no reporter is available, and removes a prohibition tied to steno-mask-only certification, which may prompt debate among court reporting professionals about standards, workload, and the future role of official reporters versus alternative recording methods.