Enrolled Bill Summary

House Bill 176 amends the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to authorize a trial judge, with the agreement of the parties, to order that a hearing of a preliminary matter or witness testimony at trial be conducted by any method of two-way electronic communication that is capable of visually and audibly recording the proceedings. The bill provides that expenses incurred by a court in conducting such a proceeding or recording a transmission are to be assessed and collected as court costs.

The bill authorizes the testimony or deposition of an inmate who is in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and who is required to testify as a witness in a criminal proceeding to be conducted by electronic means under certain conditions.