Amend CSSB 1 (house committee report) in Article IV of the bill, following the appropriations to the Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council (page IV-25), by adding the following appropriately numbered rider:

____.  Report on Remote Court Proceedings. Out of funds appropriated to the Office of Court Administration above or otherwise available for the purpose, the office shall conduct a study evaluating the use of remote proceedings in Texas courts. Not later than September 1, 2026, the office shall prepare and submit to the legislature a report on the results of the study conducted under this rider and any recommendations for legislative or other action. The study must evaluate and the report must include information regarding:

(1)  challenges created by inequitable access to technology;

(2)  regional disparities in the use of remote proceedings; and

(3)  the impact of remote proceedings on:

(A)  self-represented litigants;

(B)  the accessibility of court proceedings by participants in the proceedings;

(C)  case processing times; and

(D)  judicial efficiency.