SB 1538 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to a study on digital court reporting conducted by the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System.

SB 1538 requires the Texas Office of Court Administration to study digital court reporting - using technology to create exact written records of court proceedings instead of traditional stenography. The study must evaluate current costs, access, accuracy, and effectiveness in Texas courts, compare practices in other states, and propose legal changes if needed. The Office must submit a report to state leaders by October 1, 2026, with the bill taking effect September 1, 2025. This study directly affects the Office of Court Administration and future court procedures in Texas. The bill expires September 1, 2027.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 21, 2025 Last action May 25, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 7 edits · May 25, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended to focus on a study of digital court reporting rather than establishing new registration requirements for court recorders. The legislation now directs the Office of Court Administration to conduct an evaluation of digital court reporting practices, costs, and effectiveness, with results to be reported to state officials by October 1, 2026.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from creating new occupational registration and criminal offenses for court recorders to conducting a study on digital court reporting practices.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'Digital court reporting' and 'Office' that were not in the original version

Removed detailed definitions for court recorder, court reporter, and shorthand reporter that were part of the original bill

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the Office of Court Administration to conduct a study on digital court reporting including evaluation of current use, costs, access, accuracy, and effectiveness

Removed provisions establishing mandatory registration and criminal offenses for court recorders

TIMELINE

Added a deadline of October 1, 2026 for submitting the study report to state officials

Added an expiration date of September 1, 2027 for the entire Act

Added an effective date of September 1, 2025 for the Act

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 25, 2025

Introduced

Received from the Senate

lower

May 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

May 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report printed and distributed

upper

May 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

upper

May 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Vote taken in committee

upper

May 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Left pending in committee

upper

May 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Testimony taken in committee

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to Jurisprudence

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors