H.B. No. 444 amends the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to enhance the process for filing applications for a writ of habeas corpus based on newly available scientific evidence that was not accessible during the original trial. The bill specifies that an eligible indigent defendant is entitled to legal representation in habeas corpus proceedings if they raise a claim under Article 11.073, which pertains to relevant scientific evidence that was not reasonably available at the time of trial or contradicts evidence relied upon by the state. Additionally, the bill mandates that courts cannot deny relief under Article 11.073 without providing a written decision that addresses the substance of the claim.

The bill also clarifies the criteria under which a convicted person may seek relief based on new scientific evidence, requiring that the evidence be admissible under current Texas Rules of Evidence and that there is a reasonable likelihood it could have influenced the conviction or sentencing. Furthermore, it stipulates that the changes apply only to applications filed after the effective date of the Act, which is set for December 1, 2025. The amendments aim to ensure that defendants have a fair opportunity to present new evidence that could potentially alter the outcome of their cases.