California's court reporting industry is watching Assembly Bill 2783 (AB 2783), Court reporting, as it addresses both California's shorthand reporter licensing examination and the state's remote court reporting pilot program.

The bill contains changes that could affect court reporters and the broader legal community, particularly as California evaluates how remote technology can be used while maintaining the integrity of the official court record.

RPR Certification Would Satisfy the Dictation/Transcription Requirement

California's state licensing examination for shorthand reporters consists of three parts:

1. English
2. Professional Practice
3. Dictation/Transcription (Machine/Skill)

The passing grade for the Dictation/Transcription portion is 95 percent.

Under AB 2783, successful completion of the Certified Verbatim Reporter (CVR), Certified Verbatim Reporter-Stenotype (CVR-S), or Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) certification would satisfy the requirement to pass the Dictation/Transcription portion of California's licensing examination.

The CVR and CVR-S are administered through the National Verbatim Reporters Association, while the RPR is administered through the National Court Reporters Association.

Importantly, an applicant who uses one of these certifications to satisfy the Dictation/Transcription requirement would still have to pass the English and Professional Practice portions of California's examination within the required three-year period.

The bill therefore does not eliminate California's licensing examination. It changes how one portion of that examination can be satisfied.

Remote Court Reporting Pilot Program

AB 2783 would also extend California's existing remote court reporting pilot program.

For purposes of the bill, remote court reporting means using a stenographic reporter who is not physically present in the courtroom to produce a verbatim record of proceedings transmitted to the reporter through audiovisual means.

The pilot program involves Superior Courts in 13 California counties:

• Alameda
• Contra Costa
• Los Angeles
• Mendocino
• Monterey
• Orange
• San Bernardino
• San Diego
• San Joaquin
• San Mateo
• Santa Clara
• Tulare
• Ventura

The pilot program began July 1, 2025, and AB 2783 would allow the participating courts to continue the pilots until no later than July 1, 2028.

Who Can Participate?

AB 2783 establishes specific requirements for reporters participating in the pilot.

Remote court reporting must be performed by full-time official reporters licensed under California law and employed by the participating Superior Court who have at least two years of courtroom experience in a California Superior Court.

The bill also provides that participating reporters are to be treated in the same manner as other official reporters employed by the court, including with respect to compensation, benefits, classification, seniority, job description, and bargaining units.

Generally, participating reporters must be physically located in a court facility while performing remote reporting. A court and the exclusive representative of its official reporters could also reach an agreement allowing additional offsite locations under the conditions specified in the bill.

What Proceedings Can Be Covered?

A participating court may use remote court reporting for certain proceedings, including:

• Limited civil proceedings
• Law and motion matters for unlimited civil cases
• Family law
• Child support
• Probate
• Juvenile dependency
• Juvenile delinquency
• Felony proceedings
• Misdemeanor proceedings

The pilot does not include preliminary hearings, trials, or death penalty cases.

Technology and the Official Record

The bill establishes specific technology requirements for participating courtrooms, including microphones, cameras, speakers, communication equipment, and a camera for the remote court reporter.

The technology is intended to allow the reporter to hear and capture the proceeding accurately while maintaining communication with the judicial officer.

One particularly important provision addresses technology failures.

Under AB 2783, participating court reporters would not be responsible for failures in technology or equipment.

If technology or audibility problems prevent the reporter from accurately capturing and certifying the verbatim record, the proceeding must be temporarily suspended until the problem can be resolved.

The bill also states that a trial court may not retaliate or threaten to retaliate against a court reporter who informs the judicial officer that technology or audibility problems are interfering with the creation or certification of the verbatim record.

Transcripts and Costs

Transcripts created through the remote court reporting pilot may be used whenever a transcript of the court proceedings is required.

The bill also provides that the fees of the official reporter and costs of transcript preparation for remote court reporting are the same as when an official reporter is physically present in the courtroom.

The Pilot Will Be Evaluated

AB 2783 requires the Superior Courts inLos Angeles, Mendocino, San Bernardino, San Mateo, and Tulare Counties to submit specified data and information regarding the results of the pilot projects to the Judicial Council.

The courts are also required to obtain feedback from participants, including:

• Judicial officers
• Court reporters
• Attorneys
• The chief public defender or designee when applicable
• The district attorney or designee when applicable

The Judicial Council would compile the results and prepare a report for the Legislature.

Under the bill, that report and the individual court reports would be presented to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2027.

A participating court must also terminate its pilot earlier if it determines that remote court reporting is prejudicing the rights of litigants or the interests of justice.

The Program Has a Sunset Date

AB 2783 would require all authorized pilot projects to terminate no later than July 1, 2028.

The statutory provisions governing the pilot would remain in effect until January 1, 2029, at which point they would be repealed.

An Urgency Statute

AB 2783 declares itself an urgency statute.

The bill states that immediate action is necessary to address the gap between the existing pilot program's scheduled expiration on July 1, 2026, and implementation of the extended program.

If enacted, the legislation would therefore take effect immediately.

Why JusVox Is Watching

AB 2783 is significant because it addresses both professional qualifications for court reporters and the continued testing of remote court reporting in California's courts.

The bill does not simply establish remote reporting without conditions. It sets requirements for who can participate, where reporters can work, what proceedings can be covered, what technology must be available, how technology failures are handled, and how the program will be evaluated.

For court reporters and the broader litigation-support community, the results of these pilot projects could be important to the future of court reporting in California.

JusVox will continue to follow AB 2783 and its potential impact on court reporters, legal videographers, attorneys, and the broader litigation-support community.

The future of court reporting mattersnot just because of technology, but because of the professionals behind the record.

JusVox is built to help connect the professionals who make the legal record possible.

Stay connected. Stay informed. Stay ahead of what's changing in the legal industry.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. AB 2783 is subject to the legislative process, and its language or status may change before enactment.

Sources: California Senate Judiciary Committee analysis; California Legislature; California Assembly floor proceedings.