89R1392 MCF-F     By: Thompson H.B. No. 870       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to requiring the corroboration of certain testimony in a   criminal case involving a controlled substance.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Article 38.141, Code of Criminal Procedure, is   amended to read as follows:          Art. 38.141.  CORROBORATION REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN TESTIMONY   RELATING TO COVERT LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY [OF UNDERCOVER PEACE   OFFICER OR SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR]. (a) A defendant may not be   convicted of an offense under Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code,   on the testimony of a person who is [not a licensed peace officer or   a special investigator but who is] acting covertly on behalf of a   law enforcement agency or under the color of law enforcement unless   the testimony is corroborated by other evidence tending to connect   the defendant with the offense committed.          (b)  Corroboration is not sufficient for the purposes of this   article if the corroboration only shows the commission of the   offense.          [(c)  In this article, "peace officer" means a person listed   in Article 2A.001, and "special investigator" means a person listed   in Article 2A.002.]          SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies to any   case in which a judgment is entered on or after the effective date   of this Act. A case in which a judgment is entered before the   effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the   date the judgment was entered, and the former law is continued in   effect for that purpose.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.