MN SF2248

Creates a grant program through the Office of Higher Education to train real-time stenographic writers, including court reporters and closed captioners

Awards two grants of $300,000 each annually starting in the 2025-2026 academic year—one to an institution in the seven-county metro area and one outside it

Appropriates $3,150,000 in fiscal year 2026 as a one-time appropriation available through June 30, 2029, with up to 5% allowed for administrative costs

Requires individual scholarship recipients to agree to work as stenographic writers for six months per semester of funding received, with repayment required if employment requirements are not met

Explicitly prohibits grant funds from being used for digital recording or artificial intelligence transcription technologies