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 defendant has the right to have counsel appointed from their initial appearance until the conclusion of the case, unless they choose to hire private counsel. The bill also defines "conclusion of the case" as the entry of a final judgment, including sentencing if applicable. Additionally, it mandates that if an arrested person is found indigent, the court must appoint qualified counsel for their preliminary examination.

The bill further addresses the process for obtaining transcripts of preliminary examination proceedings, stating that upon motion from either the state or the defense, a transcript must be promptly provided to the requesting party, with costs covered by the party making the motion unless they are an indigent defendant. These amendments aim to ensure that defendants receive adequate legal representation and that procedural efficiencies are maintained throughout the pretrial process.