| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to public access to criminal proceedings. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Article 1.24, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
Art. 1.24. PUBLIC TRIAL. The proceedings, including a |
|
|
proceeding under Article 15.17, and trials in all courts shall be |
|
|
public. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Chapter 15, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
|
amended by adding Article 15.1705 to read as follows: |
|
|
Art. 15.1705. PROCEEDINGS CONDUCTED BEFORE MAGISTRATE BY |
|
|
LIVESTREAM OR VIDEOCONFERENCE. (a) A court that as of January 1, |
|
|
2026, does not have the physical capability, or is located in a |
|
|
secured facility without the physical capability, to provide |
|
|
in-person public access to a proceeding under Article 15.17 may |
|
|
provide public access by livestream or videoconference. The |
|
|
livestream or videoconference must allow members of the public to |
|
|
clearly see and hear the proceeding. |
|
|
(b) This article may not be construed as prohibiting a judge |
|
|
from placing reasonable limits on in-person access to the court for |
|
|
safety or to prevent overcrowding. |
|
|
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
|
|
to a criminal proceeding that commences on or after January 1, 2026. |
|
|
A criminal proceeding that commenced before January 1, 2026, is |
|
|
governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date |
|
|
of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
|
|
purpose. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |