The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Texas HB 1604 mandates public access to all criminal proceedings and permits remote viewing for qualifying courts
Last action · May 12, 2025: Committee report sent to CalendarsSponsor: John Bucy
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What This Bill Proposed
Relating to public access to criminal proceedings.
Expands public observation rights for criminal court proceedings across Texas while permitting certain facilities to use video broadcasts instead of physical attendance.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
general public
Gains guaranteed public access rights to all criminal proceedings and magistrate hearings, either in person or via remote video.
courts and magistrates
Must ensure criminal proceedings are open to the public and may implement livestreaming or videoconferencing if physical facilities lack capacity.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can courts use video to provide public access?
Can a judge limit in-person attendance?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
13 actions- May 12, 2025HouseCommittee report sent to Calendars
- May 12, 2025HouseCommittee report distributed
- May 12, 2025HouseComte report filed with Committee Coordinator
- May 6, 2025HouseCommitteeReported favorably as substituted
- May 6, 2025HouseCommittee substitute considered in committee
- May 6, 2025HouseConsidered in formal meeting
Show 7 earlier actions
- Apr 15, 2025HouseLeft pending in committee
- Apr 15, 2025HouseTestimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
- Apr 15, 2025HouseConsidered in public hearing
- Apr 15, 2025HouseScheduled for public hearing on . . .
- Mar 12, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to Criminal Jurisprudence
- Mar 12, 2025HouseIntroducedRead first time
- Dec 12, 2024HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
capitol.texas.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 60)
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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