By: Hinojosa of Hidalgo S.B. No. 1372
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to access to the crime laboratory portal.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 411.164, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 411.164. DEFENSE COUNSEL ACCESS TO CRIME LABORATORY
PORTAL. In accordance with department rule, the attorney
representing the state in a criminal action shall designate [the
defendant or] the defendant's attorney[, as appropriate,] as an
individual who is authorized to access and use the crime laboratory
portal under Section 411.162 to request any crime laboratory
records that are subject to discovery under Article 39.14, Code of
Criminal Procedure.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a criminal proceeding that commences on or after the effective
date of this Act. A criminal proceeding that commences before the
effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the
date the proceeding commenced, and the former law is continued in
effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.