Court reporters or court reporting services provider; prohibited actions, civil penalties.
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SB 545 — Court reporters or court reporting services provider; prohibited actions, civil penalties.
Last action — Enrolled
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House of Delegates
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill died with 2018 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.
Summary
Establishes ethical standards and requirements for the provision of court reporting services, including prohibiting providers of court reporting services from (i) entering into contracts for more than one case, action, or legal proceeding with a party to an action, insurance company, third-party administrator, or any other person or entity that has a financial interest in the case, action, or legal proceeding; (ii) giving an economic advantage to one side that is not offered to the other; (iii) having a financial interest in the action; (iv) entering into an agreement for court reporting services that restricts an attorney from using the court reporter or court reporting services provider of the attorney's choosing; (v) allowing the format, content, or body of a certified transcript as submitted by the court reporter to be manipulated in a manner that increases the cost of the transcript; and (vi) providing additional advocacy or litigation support services. The bill provides that a person harmed by a violation of these standards may file a complaint with the administrative body, court, or administrative tribunal in which the action upon which the legal proceeding is based is pending or scheduled to be heard. The bill provides that the court reporter or court reporting services provider alleged to have violated such standards shall be given notice and a right to be heard on any such complaint, with the right of appeal or review. The bill further provides that a person who violates these standards is subject to a civil penalty of $500 for a first offense, $750 for a second offense, and $1,000 for a third and any subsequent offense, which shall be paid to the state treasury and credited to the Legal Aid Services Fund within the Virginia State Bar fund.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
8 added · 11 removedPlain-language change summary
The amendment to SB 545 clarifies the definition of "court reporting services" by specifying that these services can be provided whether a party is present in person or attending remotely. By including remote access as part of the definition, the bill addresses the growing need for flexibility in court proceedings, especially in light of recent shifts toward virtual interactions. This change helps ensure that all participants can access necessary services, making the legal process more inclusive and accessible.
SESSION history | hilite | pdf | print version 18107996DVIRGINIA SENATEACTS BILLOF NO.ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 17.1 a chapter numbered 10, consisting of sections numbered 17.1-1000 through 17.1-1005, relating to court reporters;
545 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Joint Conference Committee on March 5, 2018) (Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Obenshain) A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 17.1 a chapter numbered 10, consisting of sections numbered 17.1-1000 through 17.1-1005, relating to court reporters;
[S 545] Approved Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
View plain text versions (6)
- Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB545ER) View text Current html March 07, 2018
- Conference Substitute Senate: Conference substitute printed 18107996D-S2 html March 05, 2018
- Committee Substitute House: Committee substitute printed 18107324D-H1 html February 23, 2018
- Engrossed Senate: Printed as engrossed 18106696D-ES1 html February 07, 2018
- Committee Substitute Senate: Committee substitute printed 18106696D-S1 html February 05, 2018
- Prefiled Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/18 18104488D html January 09, 2018
Action History
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Enrolled
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Conference report agreed to by House (74-Y 25-N)
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Reconsideration of conference report agreed to by House
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Conference report agreed to by House (74-Y 24-N)
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Conference substitute printed 18107996D-S2
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Amended by conference committee
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Conferees appointed by House
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Conferees appointed by Senate
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House requested conference committee
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House insisted on substitute
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Passed House with substitute (79-Y 20-N)
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Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB545H1
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Committee substitute agreed to 18107324D-H1
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Read third time
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Taken up out of order pursuant to House Rule 52 (96-Y 0-N)
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Constitutional reading dispensed (95-Y 0-N)
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Assigned App. sub: General Government & Capital Outlay
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Referred to Committee on Appropriations
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Assigned Courts sub: Subcommittee #2
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Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
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Read first time
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Placed on Calendar
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Printed as engrossed 18106696D-ES1
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Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute with amendment SB545ES1
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Amendment #8 by Senator Obenshain agreed to
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Reading of amendment waived
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Reading of amendments waived
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Committee substitute agreed to 18106696D-S1
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Reading of substitute waived
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Read second time
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Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
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Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/18 18104488D
Sponsors
- Mark D. Obenshain · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on · 25 voted No
Sponsors (1)
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (147)
147 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 147 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 74 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 74 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 76% | 24% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (98)
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 79 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 79 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 80% | 20% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (99)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 95 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 95 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (95)
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 96 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 96 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (96)
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does SB 545 do?
- Establishes ethical standards and requirements for the provision of court reporting services, including prohibiting providers of court reporting services from (i) entering into contracts for more than one case, action, or legal proceeding with a party to an action, insurance company, third-party administrator, or any other person or entity that has a financial interest in the case, action, or legal proceeding; (ii) giving an economic advantage to one side that is not offered to the other; (iii) having a financial interest in the action; (iv) entering into an agreement for court reporting services that restricts an attorney from using the court reporter or court reporting services provider of the attorney's choosing; (v) allowing the format, content, or body of a certified transcript as submitted by the court reporter to be manipulated in a manner that increases the cost of the transcript; and (vi) providing additional advocacy or litigation support services. The bill provides that a person harmed by a violation of these standards may file a complaint with the administrative body, court, or administrative tribunal in which the action upon which the legal proceeding is based is pending or scheduled to be heard. The bill provides that the court reporter or court reporting services provider alleged to have violated such standards shall be given notice and a right to be heard on any such complaint, with the right of appeal or review. The bill further provides that a person who violates these standards is subject to a civil penalty of $500 for a first offense, $750 for a second offense, and $1,000 for a third and any subsequent offense, which shall be paid to the state treasury and credited to the Legal Aid Services Fund within the Virginia State Bar fund.
- Who sponsors SB 545?
- SB 545 is sponsored by Mark D. Obenshain.
- What is the current status of SB 545?
- This bill died with 2018 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
- Where can I track SB 545?
- Track SB 545 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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