HLS 25RS-308 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 155
BY REPRESENTATIVE MUSCARELLO
COURTS/COURT REPORTERS: Provides for a statewide revision of court reporter fees
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 13:961(F)(1), 962(H), 963(I)(1), 964(H), 964.1(B), 966(A) and
3 (C), 967(C)(1), 969(G) and (I), 970(L), 971(B)(1)(a), (2), and (7) and (C)(1)(a) and
4 (2), 972(D)(1), 975(B), 976(C), 978(H)(1)(a), 979(H), and 980(D)(1), and to repeal
5 R.S. 13:970(K), Act No. 126 of the 2017 Regular Session of the Legislature of
6 Louisiana, Act No. 232 of the 2020 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana,
7 Act No. 52 of the 2023 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana, Act No. 228
8 of the 2023 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana, and the provisions of
9 Act No. 447 of the 2018 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana enacting
10 R.S. 13:961(F)(1)(v), relative to court reporter fees; to provide for a statewide
11 revision of court reporter fees; and to provide for related matters.
12Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
13 Section 1. R.S. 13:961(F)(1), 962(H), 963(I)(1), 964(H), 964.1(B), 966(A) and (C),
14967(C)(1), 969(G) and (I), 970(L), 971(B)(1)(a), (2), and (7) and (C)(1)(a) and (2),
15972(D)(1), 975(B), 976(C), 978(H)(1)(a), 979(H), and 980(D)(1) are hereby amended and
16reenacted to read as follows:
17 §961. Court reporters; generally
18 * * *
19 F.(1)(a) In all civil and criminal cases a fee not to exceed one dollar and fifty
20 cents per thirty-one-line page and twenty-five cents per copy reported and
21 transcribed shall be charged by and be paid to the court reporter who reported and
22 transcribed the testimony. (i) In all civil and non-indigent criminal cases a fee not
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1 to exceed five dollars per thirty-one- or thirty-two-line page transcript and not to
2 exceed two dollars per page per certified copy reported and transcribed shall be
3 charged by and paid to the court reporter who reported and transcribed the testimony.
4 Fees may be set up to the statutory amount by a majority of the judges in the court
5 for which the reporter is employed.
6 (ii) In all criminal indigent cases a fee not to exceed three dollars and fifty
7 cents per thirty-one- or thirty-two-line page transcript and not to exceed one dollar
8 per page per certified copy reported and transcribed shall be charged by and paid to
9 the court reporter who reported and transcribed the testimony. Fees may be set up
10 to the statutory amount by a majority of the judges in the court for which the reporter
11 is employed.
12 (iii) These fees shall be retained by him as compensation, in addition to the
13 salary as provided in Subsection E, and shall be taxed as costs of the case in which
14 such testimony is taken.
15 (b) No fee shall be assessed or collected when providing an electronic copy
16 of a previously transcribed transcript.
17 (c) Salaried court reporters shall not, in any civil or criminal case, charge a
18 sitting fee.
19 (d) When an expedited transcript is requested, the following expedited fees
20 may be charged:
21 (i) For transcription within twenty-four hours, a court reporter may charge
22 two times the allowable per page rate set pursuant Subparagraph (a) of this
23 Paragraph.
24 (ii) For transcription within forty-eight hours, a court reporter may charge
25 an additional three dollars per page over the allowable per page rate set pursuant to
26 Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph.
27 (iii) For transcription within five days, a court reporter may charge an
28 additional one dollar per page over the allowable per page rate set pursuant to
29 Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph.
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1 (b) In the Ninth Judicial District such fee shall not exceed two dollars and
2 fifty cents per thirty-one-line page.
3 (c) In the Seventeenth Judicial District such fee shall not exceed two dollars
4 and fifty cents for each thirty-one line page and fifty cents for each copied page.
5 (d) In the Third Judicial District, a majority of the judges shall determine the
6 amount to be paid for each page and for each copied page of all testimony reported
7 and transcribed in all cases.
8 (e) In the Second, Fifth, and Eighteenth Judicial Districts, in all cases, except
9 those to be filed in forma pauperis, a fee determined by a majority of the judges for
10 each page and each copied page of all testimony reported and transcribed shall be
11 charged by and paid to the court reporter.
12 (f) In the Twenty-Third Judicial District, in all cases, except those to be filed
13 in forma pauperis, a fee determined by a majority of the judges for each page not to
14 exceed two dollars and fifty cents for each thirty-one line page and each copied page
15 of all testimony reported and transcribed shall be charged by and paid to the court
16 reporter.
17 (g) In the Twenty-Eighth Judicial District, a majority of the judges shall
18 determine the amount to be paid for each page of all testimony reported and
19 transcribed in all cases, which fee shall not be less than one dollar and fifty cents nor
20 exceed two dollars and fifty cents per thirty-one-line page.
21 (h) In the Thirty-Fifth Judicial District, a majority of the judges shall
22 determine the amount to be paid for each page of all testimony reported and
23 transcribed in all cases, which fee shall not be less than one dollar and fifty cents nor
24 exceed two dollars and fifty cents per thirty-one-line page.
25 (i) In the Twenty-First Judicial District, in all cases, except those to be filed
26 in forma pauperis, a fee determined by a majority of the judges for each page not to
27 exceed two dollars and fifty cents for each thirty-one-line page and each copied page
28 of all testimony reported and transcribed shall be charged by and paid to the court
29 reporter.
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1 (j) In the Eighth Judicial District, a majority of the judges shall determine the
2 amount to be paid for each page of all testimony reported and transcribed in all cases,
3 which fee shall be not less than one dollar and fifty cents nor exceed two dollars and
4 fifty cents per thirty-one line page and a fee not to exceed fifty cents per copy per
5 page of transcribed testimony.
6 (k) In the Fourth Judicial District, in all cases, except those to be filed in
7 forma pauperis, a fee determined by a majority of the judges for each page not to
8 exceed two dollars and fifty cents for each thirty-one-line page and each copied page
9 of all testimony reported and transcribed shall be charged by and paid to the court
10 reporter.
11 (l) In the Sixth Judicial District, a majority of the judges shall determine the
12 amount to be paid for each page of all testimony reported and transcribed in all cases,
13 which fee shall not exceed two dollars and fifty cents for each thirty-one line page
14 and a fee not to exceed fifty cents per copy per page of transcribed testimony.
15 (m) In the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District, parish of Bossier, in all cases a fee
16 determined by a majority of the judges for each page not to exceed two dollars and
17 fifty cents for each thirty-one line page and fifty cents for each copied page of all
18 testimony reported and transcribed shall be charged by and paid to the court reporter.
19 (n) In the Twenty-Second Judicial District Court, a majority of the judges
20 shall determine the amount to be paid for each page and for each copied page of all
21 testimony reported and transcribed in all cases.
22 (o) In the Thirty-Sixth Judicial District, a majority of the judges shall
23 determine the amount of the fee which shall be paid to the court reporter for the
24 transcription of each page of all testimony reported and transcribed in all cases,
25 which fee shall not be less than one dollar and fifty cents and shall not exceed two
26 dollars and seventy-five cents per thirty-one-line page and the amount of the fee per
27 copy of each page of transcribed testimony, which shall not exceed twenty-five
28 cents.
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1 (p) In the Eleventh Judicial District, a majority of the judges en banc shall
2 determine the amount to be paid for each page and for each copied page of all
3 testimony reported and transcribed in all cases in an amount not to exceed two
4 dollars and seventy-five cents per page and in an amount not to exceed twenty-five
5 cents per copy.
6 (q) In the Thirty-Ninth Judicial District, a majority of the judges shall
7 determine the amount to be paid for each page of all testimony reported and
8 transcribed in all cases, which fee shall not exceed two dollars and seventy-five cents
9 for each thirty-two-line page and a fee not to exceed twenty-five cents per copy per
10 page of transcribed testimony.
11 (r) In the Twenty-Ninth Judicial District, a majority of the judges en banc
12 shall determine the amount to be paid for each page and for each copied page of all
13 testimony reported and transcribed as required by law, which fee shall not exceed
14 two dollars and seventy-five cents for each thirty-two-line page and a fee not to
15 exceed twenty-five cents per copy per page of transcribed testimony.
16 (s) In the Thirty-Third Judicial District Court, in all civil and criminal
17 appeals, a fee not to exceed two dollars and seventy-five cents per thirty-two-line
18 page and twenty-five cents per copy reported and transcribed shall be charged by and
19 be paid to the court reporter who reported and transcribed the testimony. These fees
20 shall be retained by him as compensation in addition to any other salary and shall be
21 taxed as costs of the case in which such testimony is taken.
22 (t) In the Thirty-Seventh Judicial District, the judge shall determine the
23 amount to be paid for each page of all testimony reported and transcribed in all cases,
24 which fee shall not exceed two dollars and seventy-five cents for each thirty-two-line
25 page and a fee not to exceed twenty-five cents per copy per page of transcribed
26 testimony.
27 (u) In the Twentieth Judicial District Court, a majority of the judges shall
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1 determine the amount to be paid for each page and for each copied page of all
2 testimony reported and transcribed in all cases.
3 * * *
4 §962. Court reporters for the First Judicial District
5 * * *
6 H. As compensation, each court reporter shall be paid a salary from the fund
7 hereinafter created of not less than one thousand seventy-five dollars per month, and
8 such additional amounts as are determined by a majority of the judges; plus an
9 amount to be determined by a majority of the judges at the rate established pursuant
10 to R.S. 13:961 for each thirty-one-line page and for each copied page of all testimony
11 reported and transcribed in all cases, said salary to be paid monthly and other
12 compensation as submitted for payment. The length of the transcript page may be
13 changed from thirty-one lines to twenty-five lines at the discretion of a majority of
14 the court. All recording and transcribing machines, typewriters, supplies, and extra
15 help shall be paid by such court reporters personally. Additional compensation,
16 recording and transcribing machines, supplies, and extra help may be provided to the
17 court reporters for work in criminal court as required and as ordered by the majority
18 of the judges, the cost thereof to be paid from the criminal court fund, or indigent
19 defender fund, any other available fund, or as otherwise provided by law and as
20 ordered by a majority of the judges.
21 * * *
22 §963. Court reporters for Thirteenth Judicial District
23 I.(1)(a) In all civil cases, a fee of two dollars and twenty-five cents per page
24 and twenty-five cents per copy of each page reported and transcribed at the rate
25 established pursuant to R.S. 13:961 shall be charged by and paid to each court
26 reporter for reports and for transcribing the testimony.
27 (b) In criminal cases, a fee not to exceed two dollars per page and twenty-
28 five cents per copy of each page reported and transcribed at the rate established
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1 pursuant to R.S. 13:961 shall be charged by and paid to such court reporter for
2 performing such duties.
3 * * *
4 §964. Court reporters for Fourteenth Judicial District
5 * * *
6 H. In all cases, a majority of the judges shall determine the amount of the fee
7 which a fee at the rate established pursuant to R.S. 13:961 shall be paid to the court
8 reporter for the transcription of each page of all testimony reported and transcribed
9 and the amount of the fee per copy of each page of transcribed testimony. The
10 provisions of this Subsection shall also apply to cases which are reported but not
11 transcribed. Such fees shall be retained by the reporter as compensation, in addition
12 to the salary provided for in Subsection G of this Section, and shall be taxed as costs
13 of the suit in which the testimony is taken.
14 * * *
15 §964.1. Fourteenth Judicial District; indigent transcript fund; reporter's fees
16 * * *
17 B. Court reporters shall be paid three dollars and twenty-five cents per thirty-
18 two-line page for such work, and seventy-five cents per page for each copy at the
19 rate established pursuant to R.S. 13:961, as funds become available, all such
20 payments to be made from the criminal indigent transcript fund by the court
21 administrator.
22 * * *
23 §966. Nineteenth judicial district Judicial District; payments in suits under pauper
24 act
25 A. Out of its general fund the governing authority for East Baton Rouge
26 Parish shall pay the court reporters of the nineteenth judicial district for the taking
27 and transcribing of the testimony in suits filed under the provisions of R.S. 13:4525
28 through 13:4529 at the rate of seventy-five cents per legal page of thirty-one lines
29 R.S. 13:4529 at the rate established pursuant to R.S. 13:961. The original and one
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1 copy shall be furnished in cases appealable to the court of appeals; in cases
2 appealable to the supreme court the original and three copies shall be furnished. The
3 payment shall be made monthly to the court reporters upon presentation of an
4 itemized statement of the costs approved by any of the judges of the district. The
5 payments to be made by the governing authority under the foregoing provisions shall
6 not exceed the gross sum of fifteen hundred dollars for any one year to each of the
7 court reporters.
8 * * *
9 C. All judgments rendered in cases, in which the party availing himself of
10 the provisions of R.S. 13:4525 through 13:4529 R.S. 13:4529 shall be cast for costs,
11 together with a statement of such costs shall be recorded by the clerk of court in the
12 mortgage records of the parish of East Baton Rouge. Such judgments when recorded
13 shall operate as a judicial mortgage in favor of the governing authority of East Baton
14 Rouge parish for the amount of costs paid to the court reporters. The governing
15 authority of East Baton Rouge parish, at its expense, may have this judgment and
16 statement of costs (or a certified copy thereof) recorded in the mortgage records of
17 any other parish or parishes, and when recorded the judgment shall operate as a
18 judicial mortgage in favor of the governing authority of East Baton Rouge parish for
19 the amount of costs paid.
20 * * *
21 §967. Twenty-Fourth Judicial District; court reporters; civil filing fees
22 * * *
23 C.(1) In all cases on appeal, the reporter shall be paid a fee not to exceed two
24 dollars and fifty cents for each original page transcribed at the rate established
25 pursuant to R.S. 13:961 and, when a copy is requested by a litigant, shall furnish
26 such copy and be paid a fee not to exceed one dollar for each page thereof the rate
27 established pursuant to R.S. 13:961, except that in criminal cases on appeal by
28 indigent defendants, no more than a total of two dollars and seventy-five cents for
29 each page transcribed the rate established pursuant to R.S. 13:961, including all
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1 copies necessary for appeal, shall be charged to and paid from any fund established
2 by law for the payment of expenses incurred in the defense of indigent persons in
3 criminal proceedings. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to make the
4 governing authority of the parish of Jefferson responsible for the expenses or costs
5 associated with the preparation of transcripts for an indigent defendant in a criminal
6 proceeding, including but not limited to bills of exceptions, trials, motions, hearings
7 on writs, or any other costs associated with an appeal in a criminal proceeding.
8 * * *
9 §969. Court reporters for the Twenty-Ninth Judicial District Court
10 * * *
11 G. In all civil cases, a fee determined by a majority of the judges en banc for
12 each original page and for each copied page of testimony, which fee shall not exceed
13 two dollars and seventy-five cents for each thirty-two-line page and a fee not to
14 exceed twenty-five cents per copy per page of transcribed testimony at the rate
15 established pursuant to R.S. 13:961, shall be charged by and paid to the court
16 reporter for reports and for transcribing the testimony which shall be retained by him
17 as compensation in addition to the salary as provided herein, and shall be taxed as
18 costs of the suit in which the testimony is taken to be collected by the clerk of court,
19 except in pauper cases; payment of the fees shall be made primarily by the appellant
20 immediately upon the transcription of the evidence, and the court reporter shall not
21 be required to file the transcript with the clerk of court before payment. Should the
22 appellant fail or refuse to make such payment, the appellee or any other party to the
23 suit may make the same and have it assessed as cost. Even though counsel may
24 attempt to procure a transcript of the entire record by alleging that the entire record
25 is necessary to support a motion for a new trial, the trial judge shall not order the
26 entire transcript to be typed unless he deems it indispensable to the record of the
27 motion or proceedings.
28 * * *
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1 I. The court reporters shall record such criminal proceedings as may be
2 required by law or as ordered by the court. No fee shall be charged for taking
3 evidence on assignments of error, motions, or other pleadings in criminal cases,
4 unless approved by the presiding judge. In all criminal cases where a transcript is
5 required by law, a fee determined by a majority of the judges en banc for each
6 original page and each copied page of testimony, which fee shall not exceed two
7 dollars and seventy-five cents for each thirty-two-line page and a fee not to exceed
8 twenty-five cents per copy per page of transcribed testimony at the rate established
9 pursuant to R.S. 13:961, shall be charged by and paid to the court reporters for
10 reporting and transcribing the testimony which shall be retained by him as
11 compensation in addition to the salary as provided herein. When so approved, any
12 such payment may be made from the criminal court cost fund. In such cases,
13 however, only properly designated portions of the record shall be transcribed.
14 * * *
15 §970. Court reporter for Twenty-sixth Judicial District for Webster Parish
16 * * *
17 L. Additionally, in civil and criminal cases the Webster Parish Police Jury
18 shall be paid two dollars and fifty cents per thirty-one-line legal size page and fifty
19 cents per page at the rate established pursuant to R.S. 13:961 for copies for all
20 testimony transcribed by the court reporters. This charge shall be taxable as court
21 costs and shall be advanced to the court reporter assigned to the case for delivery to
22 the Webster Parish Police Jury for deposit in the clerk of court reporter's fund.
23 * * *
24 §971. Sixteenth and Twenty-Seventh Judicial Districts; additional court reporters;
25 fees charged by court reporters; indigent transcript fund
26 * * *
27 B.(1)(a) In the Twenty-Seventh Judicial District, in all civil cases a fee of
28 three dollars and fifty cents per page for the original and fifty cents per page at the
29 rate established pursuant to R.S. 13:961 for copies reported and transcribed shall be
30 charged by and paid to the court reporter who reports and transcribes the testimony
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1 and shall be retained by him as compensation in addition to the salary as provided
2 herein.
3 * * *
4 (2) In all criminal cases, except those involving indigent defendants, a fee
5 of three dollars and fifty cents per page for the original, and fifty cents for each copy
6 thereafter reported and transcribed at the rate established pursuant to R.S. 13:961
7 shall be paid to the court reporter who reports and transcribes the testimony and shall
8 be retained by him as compensation in addition to the salary as provided herein. The
9 payment of fees in criminal cases involving indigent defendants shall be governed
10 by the provisions of R.S. 13:4529.
11 * * *
12 (7) Court reporters shall be paid three dollars and fifty cents per
13 thirty-one-line page for such work, and twenty-five cents per page for each copy at
14 the rate established pursuant to R.S. 13:961, as funds become available, all such
15 payments to be made from the criminal indigent transcript fund by the court.
16 * * *
17 C.(1)(a) In the Sixteenth Judicial District, in all civil cases a fee of two
18 dollars and fifty cents per page for the original and fifty cents per page each for the
19 first and second copies for cases reported and transcribed at the rate established
20 pursuant to R.S. 13:961 shall be charged by and paid to the court reporter who
21 reports and transcribes the testimony and shall be retained by him as compensation
22 in addition to the salary as provided herein.
23 * * *
24 (2) In all criminal cases, except those involving indigent defendants, a fee
25 of two dollars and fifty cents per page for the original and fifty cents per page each
26 for the first and second copies reported and transcribed at the rate established
27 pursuant to R.S. 13:961 shall be paid to the court reporter who reports and
28 transcribes the testimony and shall be retained by him as compensation in addition
29 to the salary as provided herein. The payment of fees in criminal cases involving
30 indigent defendants shall be governed by the provisions of R.S. 13:4529.
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1 * * *
2 §972. Court Reporters for the Twenty-Fifth Judicial District
3 * * *
4 D.(1) In all cases the reporter shall be paid a fee of two dollars and seventy-
5 five cents for each original thirty-two line page transcribed and, where a copy is
6 requested by a litigant, shall furnish such copy and be paid a fee of twenty-five cents
7 for each page thereof at the rate established pursuant to R.S. 13:961. At the request
8 of any of the parties to any proceedings, or at the order of a district judge, the court
9 reporter shall transcribe all or part of the testimony or other matter taken down and
10 shall furnish as many copies thereof as may be required by law for an appeal. The
11 reporter, except when ordered by the judge, shall not be required to file or furnish
12 any transcribed testimony until the transcription fee is paid. If those parties, or the
13 judge, direct the original transcription, each party shall pay the expense of
14 transcribing the testimony offered by him. No fee shall be allowed for transcribing
15 matter other than testimony, objections and rulings thereon, bills, notes of evidence,
16 and such other matters as may be ordered by the judge. All such fees shall be paid
17 directly to the court reporter performing the service as additional compensation and
18 shall be taxed as costs.
19 * * *
20 §975. Court reporters and judges' secretaries for the twenty-third judicial district
21 Twenty-Third Judicial District
22 * * *
23 B. In civil cases which are reported and transcribed, a fee of one dollar and
24 twenty-five cents per page at the rate established pursuant to R.S. 13:961 shall be
25 charged by and paid to the reporter. Provided, however, that no additional fee shall
26 be charged for reporting or transcribing civil cases except when ordered for purposes
27 of appeal of a decision of the court or when ordered by the court of appeal.
28 * * *
29 §976. Thirty-Second Judicial District; additional court reporters; transcript fees
30 * * *
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1 C. The civil and criminal transcript fee for all court reporters in the Thirty-
2 Second Judicial District should not exceed two dollars and seventy-five cents per
3 thirty-one-line page and twenty-five cents per page copy shall be set at the rate
4 established pursuant to R.S. 13:961. These fees shall be charged by and be paid to
5 the court reporter who reported and transcribed the testimony, shall be retained by
6 him as compensation in addition to his salary, and shall be taxed as costs of the suit
7 in which the testimony is taken.
8 * * *
9 §978. Court reporters for Thirtieth Judicial District
10 * * *
11 H.(1)(a) In all civil cases, a fee of one dollar and fifty cents per page and
12 fifty cents per page additional for the first copy, thirty-five cents per page additional
13 for copies reported and transcribed beyond the first copy at the rate established
14 pursuant to R.S. 13:961, shall be charged by and paid to the court reporter for reports
15 and for transcribing the testimony which shall be retained by him as compensation
16 in addition to the salary as provided in this Section, and shall be taxed as costs of the
17 suit in which the testimony is taken to be collected by the clerk of court, except in
18 pauper cases. Payment of the fees shall be made primarily by the plaintiff
19 immediately upon the transcription of the evidence, and the court reporter shall not
20 be required to file the transcript with the clerk of court before payment.
21 * * *
22 §979. Court reporters for thirty-eighth judicial district Thirty-Eighth Judicial
23 District
24 * * *
25 H. In civil and criminal cases which are reported and transcribed, a fee of
26 two dollars and twenty-five cents per page for originals, and twenty-five cents per
27 page for each copy at the rate established pursuant to R.S. 13:961, shall be charged
28 by and paid to the reporter. In those civil cases which are reported but not
29 transcribed, one-half of the fee provided herein for originals shall be charged by and
30 paid to the reporter. Such fees shall be retained by the reporter, as compensation in
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1 addition to the salary provided for in Subsection G of this Section, and shall be taxed
2 as costs of the suit in which the testimony is taken.
3 * * *
4 §980. Court reporters for the Thirty-Fourth Judicial District
5 * * *
6 D.(1) In all cases on appeal, the reporter shall be paid a fee not to exceed
7 three dollars for each original page transcribed and where a copy is requested by a
8 litigant, shall furnish such copy and be paid a fee of one dollar and fifty cents for
9 each page thereof at the rate established pursuant to R.S. 13:961. At the request of
10 any of the party proceedings, or at the order of a district judge, the court reporter
11 shall transcribe all or part of the testimony or other matter taken down and shall
12 furnish as many copies thereof as may be required by law for an appeal. For matters
13 not on appeal, a litigant requesting a transcript of testimony or other matter
14 transcribed shall enter into a private civil contract with the court reporter for the
15 payment of fees applicable to those contracts. Such fees shall be in accordance with
16 fees customarily charged in the judicial district for depositions. The reporter, except
17 when ordered by the judge, shall not be required to file or furnish any transcribed
18 testimony until the transcription fee is paid. If those parties, or the judge, direct the
19 original transcription, each party shall pay the expense of transcribing the testimony
20 offered by him. No fee shall be allowed for transcribing matter other than testimony,
21 objections and rulings thereon, bills, notes of evidence, and such other matters as
22 may be ordered by the judge. All such fees shall be paid directly to the court reporter
23 performing the service as additional compensation and shall be taxed as costs.
24 * * *
25 Section 2. R.S. 13:970(K) is hereby repealed in its entirety.
26 Section 3. Act No. 126 of the 2017 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana,
27Act No. 232 of the 2020 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana, Act No. 52 of the
282023 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana, and Act No. 228 of the 2023 Regular
29Session of the Legislature of Louisiana are hereby repealed in their entirety and shall never
30become effective.
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1 Section 4. The provisions of Act No. 447 of the 2018 Regular Session of the
2Legislature of Louisiana enacting R.S. 13:961(F)(1)(v) are hereby repealed in their entirety
3and shall never become effective.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 155 Original 2025 Regular Session Muscarello
Abstract: Provides for a statewide revision of court reporter fees in order to provide for a
uniform fee schedule for all judicial district courts.
Present law provides that in all civil and criminal cases a fee not to exceed $1.50 per 31-line
page and $.25 per copy reported and transcribed shall be charged by and be paid to the court
reporter who reported and transcribed the testimony.
Present law provides for varying court reporter fees for each of the judicial district courts:
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd,
23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 32nd, 33rd, 34th, 35th, 36th, 37th, 38th, 39th.
Proposed law repeals present law and provides for a uniform court reporter fee schedule for
all judicial district courts by providing that the fee not exceed $5 per 31- or 32-line page
transcript and up to $2 per page per certified copy reported and transcribed. Proposed law
further provides that fees may be set up to the statutory amount by a majority of the judges.
Proposed law provides that in all criminal indigent cases a fee not to exceed $3.50 per 31-
or 32-line page transcript and $1 per page per certified copy reported and transcribed shall
be charged by and paid to the court reporter who reported and transcribed the testimony.
Proposed law further provides that fees may be set up to the statutory amount by a majority
of the judges.
Proposed law provides that the fees shall be retained by the court reporter as compensation,
in addition to the salary as provided in present law, and shall be taxed as costs of the case
in which such testimony is taken.
Proposed law provides that no fee shall be assessed or collected when providing an
electronic copy of a previously transcribed transcript.
Proposed law provides that a salaried court reporter shall not, in any civil or criminal case,
charge a sitting fee.
Proposed law provides that when an expedited transcript is requested, the following
expedited fees may be charged:
(1)For transcription within 24 hours, a court reporter may charge two times the
allowable per page rate set pursuant to proposed law.
(2)For transcription within 48 hours, a court reporter may charge an additional $3 per
page over the allowable per page rate set pursuant to proposed law.
(3)For transcription within five days, a court reporter may charge an additional $1 per
page over the allowable per page rate set pursuant to proposed law.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-308 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 155
Present law (Acts 2017, No. 126; Acts 2018, No. 447; Acts 2020, No. 232; and Acts 2023,
No. 52 and No. 228) provides for varying proposed fee increases for various judicial district
courts, and each such increase is contingent upon approval by the Judicial Council, which
has not been granted.
Proposed law repeals present law.
(Amends R.S. 13:961(F)(1), 962(H), 963(I)(1), 964(H), 964.1(B), 966(A) and (C),
967(C)(1), 969(G) and (I), 970(L), 971(B)(1)(a), (2), and (7) and (C)(1)(a) and (2),
972(D)(1), 975(B), 976(C), 978(H)(1)(a), 979(H), and 980(D)(1); Repeals R.S. 13:970(K),
Act No. 126 of the 2017 R.S., Act No. 232 of the 2020 R.S., Act Nos. 52 and 228 of the
2023 R.S., and the provisions of Act No. 447 of the 2018 R.S. enacting R.S. 13:961(F)(1)(v))
Page 16 of 16
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.