89R790 AJZ-D     By: Canales H.B. No. 3449       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the reimbursement of expenses to certain counsel   appointed to represent a defendant in a criminal proceeding.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Article 26.05, Code of Criminal Procedure, is   amended by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (d-1) to   read as follows:          (d)  A counsel in a noncapital case, other than an attorney   with a public defender's office, appointed to represent a defendant   under this code shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary   expenses, including expenses for:                (1)  investigation;                (2)  [and for] mental health and other experts; and                (3)  if the defendant is confined in a correctional   facility located more than 50 miles from the court in which the   defendant's proceeding is pending:                      (A)  travel to the defendant's location for a   confidential communication and food and lodging related to that   travel; and                       (B)  any costs associated with remotely entering   into a confidential communication with the defendant.          (d-1)  Expenses under Subsection (d) incurred with prior   court approval shall be reimbursed in the same manner provided for   capital cases by Articles 26.052(f) and (g), and expenses under   Subsection (d) incurred without prior court approval shall be   reimbursed in the manner provided for capital cases by Article   26.052(h).          SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only   to expenses incurred on or after the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.