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 a 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 legislation also includes a codification instruction indicating that the new provisions will be integrated into Title 3, chapter 1, part 3 of the Montana Code. This bill seeks to modernize court procedures and improve access to legal representation while maintaining the option for in-person appearances when necessary.