85R559 JRR-D     By: White H.B. No. 420       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the admissibility of certain evidence relating to   climate change or global warming in certain criminal cases.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 38, Code of Criminal Procedure, is   amended by adding Article 38.51 to read as follows:          Art. 38.51.  ADMISSIBILITY OF CERTAIN EVIDENCE RELATING TO   CLIMATE CHANGE OR GLOBAL WARMING IN CERTAIN CASES. Evidence   relating to the defendant's theories, beliefs, or statements on   climate change or global warming, including causes of climate   change or global warming, is not admissible as proof of an element   of an offense involving:                (1)  fraud or a fraudulent or deceptive practice; or                (2)  any false or misleading statement,   representation, or information.          SECTION 2.  Article 38.51, Code of Criminal Procedure, as   added by this Act, applies only to a criminal case in which the voir   dire examination begins on or after the effective date of this Act.   A criminal case in which the voir dire examination begins before the   effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the   examination begins, and the former law is continued in effect for   that purpose.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.