House Bill No. 277, introduced by Representative Jordan, amends and reenacts several articles of the Code of Criminal Procedure to enhance pretrial procedures. Key changes include the stipulation that if a court determines a defendant is indigent, the court must appoint counsel to represent the defendant from their initial appearance until the conclusion of the case, unless the defendant opts to hire private counsel. The bill also defines "conclusion of the case" as the entry of a final judgment in the trial court, including the completion of sentencing if applicable.

Additionally, the bill mandates that if a preliminary examination is ordered, the court must appoint qualified counsel for indigent defendants and ensures that transcripts of preliminary examination proceedings are promptly provided to the state or defense counsel upon request. The cost of transcript preparation remains the responsibility of the party making the motion unless they are an indigent defendant. Overall, the bill aims to clarify and improve the rights of defendants during pretrial processes, particularly regarding legal representation and access to documentation.