Bill Text: TX SB539 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to a defendant's appearance by telephone or videoconference in a justice or municipal court.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-12-06 - Filed [SB539 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-SB539-Introduced.html

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89R1185 CMO-F
By: Johnson S.B. No. 539

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a defendant's appearance by telephone or
videoconference in a justice or municipal court.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article 45A.260, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended to read as follows:
Art. 45A.260. APPEARANCE BY TELEPHONE OR VIDEOCONFERENCE.
If the justice or judge determines that requiring a defendant to
appear before the justice or judge in person for a hearing [under
Article 45A.258 or 45A.259] would impose an undue hardship on the
defendant, the justice or judge may allow the defendant to appear by
telephone or videoconference.
SECTION 2. Article 45A.260, Code of Criminal Procedure, as
amended by this Act, applies to a proceeding that commences before,
on, or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.