Monitoring the SessionHB 160
Filed
Initial review · graded Nov 9, 2026 · How we grade
relating to a defendant's appearance by telephone or videoconference in a justice or municipal court.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Undue hardship? Call in to court. Starting September 1, 2027.
The bill lets a justice of the peace or municipal judge allow a defendant to appear by phone or video at any hearing, not just the two kinds of hearings named in current law, when showing up in person would be an undue hardship. It touches defendants in justice and municipal courts and the judges who run those courts. On the ground, more defendants with a real hardship can be allowed to handle any hearing remotely starting September 1, 2027.
Labels: BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 89R HB 4697 (Did not pass). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R and 89R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 89R and 90R. Checked against 88R and 89R only.
90R-HB160 · 2026-11-09
relating to a defendant's appearance by telephone or videoconference in a justice or municipal court.
Undue hardship? Call in to court. Starting September 1, 2027.
The bill lets a justice of the peace or municipal judge allow a defendant to appear by phone or video at any hearing, not just the two kinds of hearings named in current law, when showing up in person would be an undue hardship. It touches defendants in justice and municipal courts and the judges who run those courts. On the ground, more defendants with a real hardship can be allowed to handle any hearing remotely starting September 1, 2027.
[ ] NONE FOUND
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Not tied to this bill.
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to May 26, 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.
$14,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Oct 22, 2024 to Dec 11, 2024. 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: 100984280.
$8,000.00
Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Oct 1, 2024 to May 18, 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: 100984280, 101062624.
$7,500.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 to Mar 30, 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: 101011004, 101030065, 101062624.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$14,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Oct 22, 2024 to Dec 11, 2024. 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: 100984280.
$8,000.00
Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Oct 1, 2024 to May 18, 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: 100984280, 101062624.
$7,500.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 to Mar 30, 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: 101011004, 101030065, 101062624.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
Analysis of text version I by a super-expensive superintelligence, Nov 9, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 2 times: 89R and now. Checked against 88R and 89R only.
by Rep. Linda Garcia, same lead author · Did not pass · same text
Introduced textLast action, Apr 29, 2025: No action taken in committee
Relating to a defendant's appearance by telephone or videoconference in a justice or municipal court.
Caption, 89R bill history
Texas House · Filed Nov 9, 2026
11/09/2026 H Filed
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Nov 10, 2026 at 2:31 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Courts--Administration
Courts--Judges
TELECONFERENCING
VIDEOCONFERENCING
The text as introduced · 152 words
90R465 MEW-F By: Garcia of Dallas H.B. No. 160 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to a defendant's appearance by telephone or videoconference in a justice or municipal court. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Article 45A.260, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows: Art. 45A.260. APPEARANCE BY TELEPHONE OR VIDEOCONFERENCE. If the justice or judge determines that requiring a defendant to appear before the justice or judge in person for a hearing [ under Article 45A.258 or 45A.259 ] would impose an undue hardship on the defendant, the justice or judge may allow the defendant to appear by telephone or videoconference. SECTION 2. Article 45A.260, Code of Criminal Procedure, as amended by this Act, applies to a proceeding that commences before, on, or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.