House Bill No. introduced by V. Moore, at the request of the Office of Public Defender, aims to facilitate remote appearances by attorneys in court, particularly for nonsubstantive hearings. The bill mandates that all courts establish a consistent process for remote appearances, allowing public defenders to appear remotely unless a court orders otherwise for good cause. If an attorney is appearing remotely, they are required to use a camera to ensure they are visible onscreen. The bill defines "good cause" as circumstances such as the court's lack of technological resources to accommodate remote appearances.

Additionally, the bill outlines what constitutes a "nonsubstantive hearing," which includes various court events where substantive outcomes are not decided, such as arraignments, bond hearings, and scheduling hearings. The provisions of this bill are intended to be codified as part of Title 3, chapter 1, part 3 of the Montana Code. This legislation aims to enhance accessibility and efficiency in the judicial process while maintaining the integrity of court proceedings.