| 1 | 1 | | 89R8833 EAS-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Johnson H.B. No. 3819 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to the use of remote technology when conducting |
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| 10 | 10 | | uncontested probate proceedings. |
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| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 53, Estates Code, is |
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| 13 | 13 | | amended by adding Section 53.108 to read as follows: |
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| 14 | 14 | | Sec. 53.108. USE OF REMOTE TECHNOLOGY IN UNCONTESTED |
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| 15 | 15 | | PROBATE PROCEEDINGS. (a) In this section, "remote technology" |
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| 16 | 16 | | includes teleconference and videoconference technology. |
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| 17 | 17 | | (b) A court shall give each party to an uncontested probate |
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| 18 | 18 | | proceeding the option and ability to attend the proceeding through |
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| 19 | 19 | | remote technology. |
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| 20 | 20 | | (c) An uncontested probate proceeding conducted through |
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| 21 | 21 | | remote technology is considered to be conducted in open court. |
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| 22 | 22 | | Testimony provided through remote technology in an uncontested |
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| 23 | 23 | | probate proceeding is considered to be taken in open court. A |
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| 24 | 24 | | decision, order, decree, or judgment rendered through remote |
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| 25 | 25 | | technology in an uncontested probate proceeding is considered to be |
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| 26 | 26 | | rendered in open court. |
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| 27 | 27 | | (d) A court that conducts an uncontested probate proceeding |
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| 28 | 28 | | through remote technology must: |
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| 29 | 29 | | (1) ensure that the public maintains access to the |
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| 30 | 30 | | proceeding; and |
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| 31 | 31 | | (2) establish and make readily available to the |
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| 32 | 32 | | parties and the public guidelines regarding the conduct of |
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| 33 | 33 | | uncontested probate proceedings through remote technology. |
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| 34 | 34 | | SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply to a |
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| 35 | 35 | | probate proceeding that is pending on, or commenced on or after, the |
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| 36 | 36 | | effective date of this Act. |
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| 37 | 37 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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