LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 14, 2025 TO: Honorable John T. Smithee, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB1604 by Bucy (Relating to public access to criminal proceedings.), As Introduced No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to clarify that magistration proceedings are open to the public. The bill would allow any person to petition a district court for a writ of mandamus or other equitable relief if a magistration proceeding is not open to the public as required. Under the provisions of the bill, courts may impose reasonable limits on in-person access to magistration courts for safety reasons or to prevent overcrowding. The bill would require a magistrate to publish certain information on the court's website prior to conducting a magistration proceeding.According to the Office of Court Administration (OCA), no significant impact to the state court system is anticipated. Local Government ImpactLocal governments may incur expenses related to providing public access by livestream or videoconference if their courts lack the capability to provide in-person public access to magistration hearings, but the cost cannot be determined due to the number of those entities being unknown. Source Agencies: b > td > 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, MGol, DA, NTh
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
April 14, 2025
TO: Honorable John T. Smithee, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB1604 by Bucy (Relating to public access to criminal proceedings.), As Introduced
TO: Honorable John T. Smithee, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB1604 by Bucy (Relating to public access to criminal proceedings.), As Introduced
Honorable John T. Smithee, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
Honorable John T. Smithee, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
HB1604 by Bucy (Relating to public access to criminal proceedings.), As Introduced
HB1604 by Bucy (Relating to public access to criminal proceedings.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to clarify that magistration proceedings are open to the public. The bill would allow any person to petition a district court for a writ of mandamus or other equitable relief if a magistration proceeding is not open to the public as required. Under the provisions of the bill, courts may impose reasonable limits on in-person access to magistration courts for safety reasons or to prevent overcrowding. The bill would require a magistrate to publish certain information on the court's website prior to conducting a magistration proceeding.According to the Office of Court Administration (OCA), no significant impact to the state court system is anticipated.
According to the Office of Court Administration (OCA), no significant impact to the state court system is anticipated.
Local Government Impact
Local governments may incur expenses related to providing public access by livestream or videoconference if their courts lack the capability to provide in-person public access to magistration hearings, but the cost cannot be determined due to the number of those entities being unknown.
Source Agencies: b > td > 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General
LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, MGol, DA, NTh
JMc, MGol, DA, NTh