Georgia House bill by author Rep. Gunter on deposition recording and court reporter requirements passes House and Senate

Newly passed bill authored by State Rep. Stan Gunter seeks to revise Georgia’s civil procedure rules on depositions, including requirements for certified court reporters and updated recording methods, according to the Georgia State House.

It passed both chambers as of Friday, March 27, clearing the House by a vote of 138-17 and the Senate by a vote of 48-0.

The bill, introduced as HB1208 on Thursday, Feb. 5 during the 2026 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’Civil practice; require depositions to be taken before certified court reporters’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill revises Georgia’s civil procedure rules on depositions to require that any deposition taken within the state be conducted before a certified court reporter, as defined in existing law or by Board of Court Reporting rules. It removes the prior mandate that depositions be recorded only by stenographic means and instead allows recording by a certified court reporter or by any method permitted by the Board of Court Reporting, with costs borne by the party taking the deposition. It clarifies that depositions by telephone or other remote electronic means are considered taken in the state and at the place where the witness answers questions. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

In the House, 47 Democrats and 91 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while 17 Democrats opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 16 Democrats and 32 Republicans voted in favor, with no opposing votes.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. James Burchett (Republican-176th), Rep. Trey Kelley (Republican-16th), and Rep. Rob Leverett (Republican-123rd), along with three other co-sponsors.

Gunter graduated from North Georgia College with a BS and again from Woodrow Wilson College of Law with a JD.

Gunter, a Republican, was elected to the Georgia State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 8th House District, replacing previous state representative Matt Gurtler.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday, May 5.

In Georgia, the legislative process begins when a lawmaker, often at a constituent’s request, works with the Office of Legislative Counsel to draft a bill. After filing with the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate, the bill receives its first reading and is sent to a committee, where most of the debate and fact-finding takes place. If approved, it advances to the floor for a third reading, debate, and a vote. To become law, the bill must pass both chambers, sometimes through a conference committee if versions differ, before being sent to the governor. The governor then has six days during session—or 40 days after adjournment (Sine Die)—to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without a signature. The Georgia General Assembly meets annually for a 40-day session beginning the second Monday in January.

Information in this article was obtained from the Georgia State House. The source data can be found here.