House Bill No. 7220, effective July 1, 2025, establishes new regulations regarding the costs associated with obtaining transcripts for proceedings conducted before public agencies. The bill mandates that any recording or stenographic record of such proceedings must be transcribed upon request by a party, with the cost of the transcript being charged to the requesting party. A stenographer is permitted to charge a one-time fee of $2.40 for each transcript page, which is defined as consisting of 27 double-spaced lines on standard-sized paper. The bill also clarifies that public agencies, when requesting transcripts, are responsible for the associated costs and are prohibited from charging or seeking reimbursement from any other parties involved in the proceedings.

In summary, the bill aims to streamline the process of obtaining transcripts from public agency proceedings while clearly delineating the financial responsibilities of both parties and public agencies. It introduces specific definitions for terms related to transcripts and establishes a standardized rate for transcription services, ensuring transparency and consistency in the costs incurred by parties requesting such records.