S.B. No. 1372 amends Section 411.164 of the Government Code to clarify the access rights to the crime laboratory portal for defense counsel in criminal cases. The bill specifies that the attorney representing the state must designate the defendant's attorney as the individual authorized to access and use the crime laboratory portal to request any records subject to discovery under Article 39.14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This change removes the previous language that included the defendant in the designation process.

The bill stipulates that the new provisions 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 proceedings that begin before this date will continue to be governed by the existing law. This ensures a smooth transition to the new regulations while maintaining the integrity of ongoing cases.

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