Monitoring the Session

HB 2449

bill lets self-represented defendants copy the evidence

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Hillary HicklandRHouse 55

Initial review · graded Oct 19, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to discovery requirements for pro se defendants in a criminal case.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Electronic copies, not just looking at it.

The bill changes the evidence-sharing rule for criminal defendants who represent themselves, so that when a court orders the state to produce evidence, prosecutors must let the defendant make electronic copies instead of only looking at it. Prosecutors may redact sensitive information as the court allows and must have the pro se defendant sign an affidavit promising not to share the materials with third parties except as the law permits or to get a lawyer. Starting with criminal cases that begin on or after September 1, 2025, self-represented defendants can take copies of the evidence against them home to prepare their defense.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Feb 5, 2025 and referred to the House Criminal Jurisprudence committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB2449 · 2025-02-05

SOLD BY

Rep. Hillary HicklandRHouse 55

ITEM

relating to discovery requirements for pro se defendants in a criminal case.

WHAT IT DOES

Electronic copies, not just looking at it.

The bill changes the evidence-sharing rule for criminal defendants who represent themselves, so that when a court orders the state to produce evidence, prosecutors must let the defendant make electronic copies instead of only looking at it. Prosecutors may redact sensitive information as the court allows and must have the pro se defendant sign an affidavit promising not to share the materials with third parties except as the law permits or to get a lawyer. Starting with criminal cases that begin on or after September 1, 2025, self-represented defendants can take copies of the evidence against them home to prepare their defense.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Hillary Hickland

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$310KTexas Conservative Majority PAC$135KCourt Reform Action for Families Texas PAC$25K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$310,226.49

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$310,226.49

Cash
$50,000.00
Paid by others
$260,226.49
Total
$310,226.49
mail $134,060.64advertising $105,955.50polling $20,210.35

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 30, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101005755, 101019808, 101048921, 101069141, 101072319.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$135,152.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$135,152.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$125,152.00
Total
$135,152.00
canvassing $125,152.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 8, 2026 to Sep 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101069141.

Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC$25,000.00

Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC

$25,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$25,000.00

Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101069141.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$310,226.49

Cash
$50,000.00
Paid by others
$260,226.49
Total
$310,226.49
mail $134,060.64advertising $105,955.50polling $20,210.35

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 30, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101005755, 101019808, 101048921, 101069141, 101072319.

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$135,152.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$125,152.00
Total
$135,152.00
canvassing $125,152.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 8, 2026 to Sep 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101069141.

×

Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC

$25,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$25,000.00

Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101069141.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 19, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 5, 2025

03/17/2025 H Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence: Mar 17 2025 2:32PM

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Criminal Jurisprudence · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Criminal Procedure--General

Electronic Information Systems

EVIDENCE

Text

The text as introduced · 331 words

89R9854 JRR-F

By: Hickland
H.B. No. 2449

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to discovery requirements for pro se defendants in a

criminal case.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Article 39.14(d), Code of Criminal Procedure, is

amended to read as follows:

(d) In the case of a pro se defendant, if the court orders

the state to produce and permit the inspection of a document, item,

or information under this subsection, the state shall [ permit the

pro se defendant to inspect and review the document, item, or

information but is not required to ] allow electronic duplication as

described by Subsection (a). The court order may require or

authorize the state to redact the same sensitive information that

is required to be redacted under Subsection (f) before the state

allows electronic duplication of the document, item, or information

containing the sensitive information. Before allowing electronic

duplication pursuant to a court order issued under this subsection,

the attorney representing the state shall require the pro se

defendant to sign an affidavit acknowledging the defendant's duty

under Subsection (e) to not disclose to a third party any documents,

evidence, materials, or witness statements received from the state

under this article unless the disclosure is specifically authorized

under that subsection or is for the purpose of obtaining legal

representation. An affidavit under this subsection, or written

information provided with the affidavit, must direct the pro se

defendant to the relevant laws regarding the preservation and

protection of evidence from unlawful disclosure.

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.