H.B. No. 357 amends Article 42A.701(g) of the Code of Criminal Procedure to modify the eligibility criteria for defendants seeking reduction or termination of community supervision. The bill specifies that defendants convicted of certain offenses under Sections 49.04-49.08 of the Penal Code will not be eligible for such reductions unless they successfully complete a veterans treatment court program as outlined in Chapter 124 of the Government Code. This addition aims to provide a pathway for veterans who have committed these offenses to potentially have their community supervision status reconsidered upon successful completion of the program.

The bill also clarifies that the changes will only apply to individuals placed on community supervision for offenses committed on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025. Those placed on community supervision for offenses committed prior to this date will continue to be governed by the existing laws at the time of their offense. This ensures that the new provisions do not retroactively affect individuals who were already subject to community supervision under the previous legal framework.