Legislative Democrats endorsed a budget proposal Thursday that retains most incentive funding for court reporters, setting up a clash with Gov. Gavin Newsom as the two sides try to close a projected $27.6 billion deficit.

Newsom earlier this month released a revised 2024-25 spending plan that claws back $16 million in unspent funding originally allocated in 2022 and 2023 to pay hiring and retention bonuses to new and existing certified shorthand reporters. The money was meant to beef up the ranks of court-employed reporters as retirements and departures to the private sector deplete their numbers.