H.B. No. 3449 amends Article 26.05 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to enhance the reimbursement process for expenses incurred by counsel appointed to represent defendants in noncapital criminal cases. The bill specifies that these attorneys, excluding those from public defender's offices, will be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses related to investigations, mental health and other expert consultations, and travel costs if the defendant is confined more than 50 miles from the court. Additionally, it includes provisions for food and lodging related to such travel and costs associated with remote communications with the defendant.

The bill introduces a new subsection (d-1) that outlines the reimbursement process for expenses incurred with and without prior court approval, aligning it with the reimbursement procedures for capital cases. Specifically, expenses approved by the court will be reimbursed similarly to capital cases under Articles 26.052(f) and (g), while those incurred without prior approval will follow the guidelines in Article 26.052(h). The changes will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will only apply to expenses incurred after that date.