Real-time stenographic writer training institutional grant program establishment and appropriation

This bill establishes a $3.15 million grant program to support training for court reporters and closed captioners (real-time stenographic writers) at Minnesota colleges and universities. It allocates $300,000 annually to two institutions - one in the seven-county metro area and one outside it - to expand training programs and job placement. Grants require institutions to report on program effectiveness and must fund direct training (not AI or digital recording), with scholarship recipients agreeing to work in the field for six months per semester received. The funding is available through 2029 to address workforce needs in transcription services.