89R16462 BCH-F
By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 2795
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the regulation of digital reporting by the Judicial
Branch Certification Commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 52.001(a), Government Code, is amended
by adding Subdivision (2) and amending Subdivision (5) to read as
follows:
(2) "Digital reporting" means the practice of making a
draft transcription of an oral court proceeding, deposition, or
proceeding before a grand jury or court personnel for use in
litigation in the courts of this state through the use of digital
technology, including automatic speech recognition, natural
language processing, or other digital technology capable of speech
recognition and transcription, that following review creates a
verbatim record.
(5) "Shorthand reporting" and "court reporting" mean
the practice of shorthand reporting for use in litigation in the
courts of this state by making a verbatim record of an oral court
proceeding, deposition, or proceeding before a grand jury, referee,
or court commissioner using written symbols in shorthand, machine
shorthand, digital reporting, or oral stenography.
SECTION 2. Section 154.001(a), Government Code, is amended
by adding Subdivision (2-a) and amending Subdivision (5) to read as
follows:
(2-a) "Digital reporting" means the practice of making
a draft transcription of an oral court proceeding, deposition, or
proceeding before a grand jury or court personnel for use in
litigation in the courts of this state through the use of digital
technology, including automatic speech recognition, natural
language processing, or other digital technology capable of speech
recognition and transcription, that following review creates a
verbatim record.
(5) "Shorthand reporting" and "court reporting" mean
the practice of shorthand reporting for use in litigation in the
courts of this state by making a verbatim record of an oral court
proceeding, deposition, or proceeding before a grand jury, referee,
or court commissioner using written symbols in shorthand, machine
shorthand, digital reporting, or oral stenography.
SECTION 3. Section 154.101(c), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(c) A certification issued under this section must be for
one or more of the following methods of shorthand reporting:
(1) written shorthand;
(2) machine shorthand;
(3) oral stenography; [or]
(4) digital reporting; or
(5) any other method of shorthand reporting authorized
by the supreme court.
SECTION 4. Subchapter C, Chapter 154, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 154.1035 to read as follows:
Sec. 154.1035. DIGITAL REPORTING DOCUMENTATION. Before
issuing a certification for digital reporting under Section
154.101, the commission shall require an applicant to provide
documentation:
(1) demonstrating the applicant is proficient in the
use of the digital technology used for digital reporting; and
(2) certifying the use of the digital technology for
digital reporting poses minimal risk of inaccuracy, algorithmic
discrimination, bias, or unlawful dissemination of privileged or
personal identifying information.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.