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Senate committee voluntarily defers bill to standardize court-reporter fees after members raise implementation questions
Summary
House Bill 155, which would standardize court reporter transcription rates and clarify related fees, was voluntarily deferred by the Senate Finance Committee after sponsors and members cited concerns about local variations and implementation details.
Representative Muscarello presented House Bill 155 to the Senate Finance Committee as a measure to standardize per-page transcription rates for court reporters across the state and to clarify sitting and expedited fees.
Jennifer Egan of the Louisiana Supreme Court said the bill was prompted by three issues: widely varying court-reporter fees across jurisdictions, a state shortage of certified court reporters, and the need to clarify sitting and expedited fees. “In the last 5 years, we have lost 200 certified court reporters,” Egan told the committee, noting the number fell from about 1,200 to about 900.
Senators raised questions about local practices. Representative Muscarello and committee members described a provision that allowed judges, in some districts, via en banc action, to set higher rates—an unintended “landmine” that would undercut a statewide cap. Members said technology and local rate-setting differences required further stakeholder work.
Representative Edmonds moved to voluntarily defer the bill so sponsors could consult stakeholders and return with revised language. The committee agreed and deferred HB155. The sponsor said he intends to continue stakeholder engagement and seek a proposal that standardizes rates without creating unintended pay cuts or local conflicts.
