H.B. No. 525 amends Article 24.16 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to expand the circumstances under which a subpoena can be issued to compel the attendance of peace officers as witnesses in misdemeanor cases. The bill specifies that if a peace officer resides out of the county where the prosecution is pending, they can be subpoenaed to attend a trial in misdemeanor cases that are punishable by fine only, in addition to existing provisions for felony cases and misdemeanor cases where confinement in jail is permissible. The application for such a subpoena must be made to the proper clerk or magistrate and must follow the manner and form outlined in Article 24.03.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that witnesses in these misdemeanor cases will be compensated similarly to those in felony cases, and it limits the application of this article to one character witness in a misdemeanor case. The changes made by this Act will only apply to criminal proceedings that commence on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025, ensuring that any proceedings initiated before this date will continue to be governed by the previous law.