Since taking the helm as the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) Government Relations Manager last year, I’ve spearheaded initiatives aimed at enhancing the Association’s advocacy while managing departmental resources wisely. This year our focus has been dual: Cutting costs without compromising our advocacy efforts.
We’ve implemented aggressive spending cuts, reducing travel and hotel expenses, ensuring every member dollar is spent on impactful advocacy. Moreover, we’ve integrated member suggestions into the annual Leadership & Legislative event, making it not only a platform for education, but also a testament to our commitment to member-driven policy.
Recognizing the importance of inclusivity, I’ve previously requested NCRA’s DEI Committee to review and update the advocacy section of our website, ensuring our content reflects our commitment to a diverse membership and profession.
January of this year alone saw an 82 percent increase in legislation related to artificial intelligence compared to all of 2024, signaling a pressing need for vigilant monitoring. We’ve expanded our state efforts to include the elevation of Supreme Court justices, ensuring our profession is well-represented at the highest levels as well as engaged with our core principals in both good times and bad.
Under its bylaws, NCRA PAC’s Governing Board is eligible to fill additional vacancies to increase its influence which its Chair, Isiah Leslie of Orange County, California, is preparing to do at this month’s meeting. Members from New York, Texas, and California will be offered appointments to ensure states with the largest caseloads play a role in the day-to-day operations of PAC administration. For the first time in PAC’s history, I was able to implement secure, year-round online fundraising after a soft rollout in Louisville, preparing for the introduction of federal legislation later this year. This step is crucial as we aim to “land the plane” with our legislative goals, justifying the Board’s investment in our contracted lobbyist based in Washington, D.C., with whom we’ve worked for three years.
Our collaborative efforts with state associations have borne fruit, most notably with the historic page-rate adjustment in Michigan, the first in nearly 40 years which was signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. This victory stands as a testament to our persistent advocacy and the effectiveness of collaboration between states and their national associations.
Additionally, Sen. Mark Warner, the ranking member of the Senate’s Intelligence Committee, has acknowledged the indispensable role court reporters play during these unprecedented times, highlighting the integrity of our profession in national discourse. This is the second time Warner engaged with NCRA over the last year and is a budding working relationship.
Our RAIN (Research And INvestigate) Team, under the direction of Executive Director Dave Wenhold, CAE, PLC, has been pivotal in vetting legislation flagged by our software, using terms from the STRONG ad hoc committee to ensure we are proactive and strategic in our legislative engagements.
As we continue into 2025, NCRA’s Government Relations Department remains committed to delivering effective advocating for our members and their industries alike. Under the leadership of ou Wenhold, , President Keith R. Lemons, FAPR, RPR, CRR, (Ret.), President-Elect Cindy Isaacsen, RPR, the RAIN Team, and in collaboration with NCRA’s Contracted Lobbyist Will Kreiger, NCRA is not just navigating the current legislative landscape; we are shaping it to better service our members and their respective industry.
Colin Brehm is NCRA’s Government Relations Manager. He can be reached at cbrehm@ncra.org.
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