S.B. No. 1372, introduced by Hinojosa of Hidalgo, amends Section 411.164 of the Government Code to clarify access to the crime laboratory portal for defense counsel. The bill specifies that the attorney representing the state in a criminal case must designate the defendant's attorney as the individual authorized to access and utilize the crime laboratory portal to request any relevant crime laboratory records that are subject to discovery under Article 39.14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Notably, the language indicating the designation of the defendant has been removed from the current law.

The bill stipulates that the changes will only apply to criminal proceedings that commence on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025. Any criminal proceedings that begin before this date will continue to be governed by the existing law. This ensures a smooth transition and clarity regarding the access rights of defense attorneys to critical evidence in criminal cases.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 411.164 (Government Code 411)
Senate Committee Report: Government Code 411.164 (Government Code 411)