Institutional grant program for real-time stenographic writer training created, reports required, and money appropriated.

HF 2114 creates a $3.15 million grant program to train real-time stenographic writers (court reporters and closed captioners) in Minnesota. It awards two annual $300,000 grants - one to an institution in the seven-county metro area and one outside it - to fund training programs and job placement. Recipients must report annually on program effectiveness and best practices, and scholarship recipients must agree to work as stenographic writers for six months per semester received. The funds, appropriated for fiscal year 2026, cannot be used for AI transcription and expire June 2029. This directly affects Minnesota higher education institutions and aspiring stenographic writers seeking training.