House Bill No. 2449 amends Article 39.14(d) of the Code of Criminal Procedure to establish new discovery requirements for pro se defendants in criminal cases. The bill stipulates that when a court orders the state to produce documents or information for inspection, the state must allow electronic duplication of these materials, but only after redacting sensitive information as required under Subsection (f). Additionally, before permitting electronic duplication, the state attorney must have the pro se defendant sign an affidavit acknowledging their duty not to disclose any received materials to third parties, unless authorized or for the purpose of obtaining legal representation. The affidavit must also inform the defendant about relevant laws regarding the preservation and protection of evidence.

The changes introduced by this bill will only apply to criminal proceedings that begin on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025. Any proceedings that commence before this date will continue to be governed by the existing laws in effect at that time. This legislation aims to enhance the rights of pro se defendants while ensuring the protection of sensitive information during the discovery process.