Rep. Linda Garcia introduced HB 4697, a bill on Courts, to the Texas House on Wednesday, March 12 during the 89(R) legislative session, according to the Texas Legislature website.
More specifically, the official text was summarized by the state legislature as ’’relating to a defendant’s appearance by telephone or videoconference in a justice or municipal court’’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
This bill amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to allow defendants in justice or municipal courts to appear by telephone or videoconference if a judge determines that an in-person appearance would impose an undue hardship. This provision applies to proceedings commencing before, on, or after the bill’s effective date. The bill becomes effective on Sept. 1, 2025.
Linda Garcia, a member of the House Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency, proposed another six bills during the 89(R) legislative session. She is also a member of the House Committee on Pensions, Investments & Financial Services.
Linda Garcia is currently serving in the Texas State House, representing the state’s 107th House district. She replaced previous state representative Victoria Neave in 2025.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
| Legislative Session | Author | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89(R) | Linda Garcia | HB 4698 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the establishment of a grant program for school district or open-enrollment charter school campuses that are designated as full-service community schools |
| 89(R) | Linda Garcia | HB 4696 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the remote participation of certain persons in a proceeding for the issuance or modification of a protective order |
| 89(R) | Linda Garcia | HB 3813 | 03/05/2025 | Relating to the accrual of interest on delinquent child support owed by obligors who are incarcerated |
| 89(R) | Linda Garcia | HB 3419 | 02/26/2025 | Relating to the establishment of the Texas Do-Not-Sell Registry for firearms |
| 89(R) | Linda Garcia | HB 2785 | 02/13/2025 | Relating to the display of certain information on the secretary of state’s Internet website prior to the completion of an online voter registration application |
| 89(R) | Linda Garcia | HB 2783 | 02/13/2025 | Relating to automatic participation by certain county employees in deferred compensation plans provided by certain counties |
| 88(R) | Victoria Neave Criado | HB 5202 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to a central database containing information about offenders who have committed certain violent offenses |
| 88(R) | Victoria Neave Criado | HB 5205 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to coverage for certain services relating to postpartum depression under the Medicaid and CHIP perinatal programs |
| 88(R) | Victoria Neave Criado | HB 5228 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the issuance of a driver’s license or personal identification certificate to certain individuals and the use of the identification fee exemption account to fund the fee waivers for those individuals |
| 88(R) | Victoria Neave Criado | HB 4309 | 03/09/2023 | Relating to prohibiting certain nondisclosure or confidentiality provisions in employment agreements |
| 88(R) | Victoria Neave Criado | HB 3977 | 03/07/2023 | Relating to an employer’s civil liability under the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act for injuries sustained by a victim of sexual assault |
| 88(R) | Victoria Neave Criado | HB 3530 | 03/06/2023 | Relating to the confinement in a county jail of certain defendants who are incompetent to stand trial and to the compensation to the county for the costs of that confinement |
| 88(R) | Victoria Neave Criado | HB 3477 | 03/03/2023 | Relating to qualifications of a sheriff or a candidate for sheriff |
| 88(R) | Victoria Neave Criado | HB 2019 | 02/08/2023 | Relating to the statute of limitations for certain burglary offenses |
| 88(R) | Victoria Neave Criado | HB 1076 | 12/21/2022 | Relating to the licensing of certain persons as peace officers by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and the hiring of those persons by political subdivisions |
| 88(R) | Victoria Neave Criado | HB 1011 | 12/14/2022 | Relating to an exception from requirements to assist or cooperate with federal immigration officers for matters regarding activities that occur at a domestic violence shelter |
| 88(R) | Victoria Neave Criado | HB 975 | 12/12/2022 | Relating to the designation of the portion of Interstate Highway 635 in Mesquite as the Officer Richard Houston II Memorial Highway |
| 88(R) | Victoria Neave Criado | HB 698 | 11/15/2022 | Relating to the remote participation of certain persons in a proceeding for the issuance or modification of a protective order |
| 88(R) | Victoria Neave Criado | HB 24 | 11/14/2022 | Relating to a sales and use tax exemption for maternity clothing |
| 88(R) | Victoria Neave Criado | HB 48 | 11/14/2022 | Relating to a sales and use tax exemption for children’s diapers and baby wipes |
| 88(R) | Victoria Neave Criado | HB 77 | 11/14/2022 | Relating to status offenses committed by a child, including the repeal of the status offense of a child voluntarily running away from home |
