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