HB 3449
AN ACT relating to the reimbursement of expenses to certain counsel
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
Modifies reimbursement rules for criminal defense attorneys appointed to represent defendants in noncapital cases, expanding coverage for reasonable expenses like mental health experts and travel costs. Attorneys can now be reimbursed for travel and communication expenses when defendants are confined in correctional facilities over 50 miles from the court, with different reimbursement procedures depending on whether the expenses were pre-approved by the court. The changes aim to ensure attorneys can adequately represent defendants and cover necessary case-related expenses.
Bill Text
relating to the reimbursement of expenses to certain counsel appointed to represent a defendant in a criminal proceeding. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Article 26.05, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (d-1) to (d) A counsel in a noncapital case, other than an attorney with a public defender's office, appointed to represent a defendant under this code shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses, including expenses for: (2) [and for] mental health and other experts; and (3) if the defendant is confined in a correctional facility located more than 50 miles from the court in which the defendant's proceeding is pending: (A) travel to the defendant's location for a confidential communication and food and lodging related to that (B) any costs associated with remotely entering into a confidential communication with the defendant. (d-1) Expenses under Subsection (d) incurred with prior court approval shall be reimbursed in the same manner provided for capital cases by Articles 26.052(f) and (g), and expenses under Subsection (d) incurred without prior court approval shall be reimbursed in the manner provided for capital cases by Article SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to expenses incurred on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Expert Lobbyists for This Bill
These lobbyists specialize in Lawyers and related subject areas.
Brianna M. Menard
Robert D. Miller
Haley Cornyn
Allen E. Blakemore
Michael J. Johnson
Vera Denise Rose
Gavin L. Massingill
Matthew Bentley
Allison Billodeau
Daniel Hodge
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the reimbursement of expenses to certain counsel
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