Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code

§ 30.012 — USE OF COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT IN CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS

CP § 30.012Title 2. TRIAL, JUDGMENT, AND APPEAL · Part B. TRIAL MATTERS · Ch. 30. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Statute text

(a)With the agreement of the parties, and subject to Subsection (b), a trial judge may order that a hearing of a preliminary matter or witness testimony at trial may be conducted by electronic means, including satellite transmission, closed-circuit television transmission, or any other method of two-way electronic communication that is available to the parties, approved by the court, and capable of visually and audibly recording the proceedings.

(b)Witness testimony at trial in a district or statutory county court may be conducted by electronic means only if the witness is deposed before the commencement of the trial. Neither the court nor any party may waive the requirement to depose the witness under this subsection if any party objects.

(c)A court that allows a transmission made under this section shall consider it accurate and include it in the record of the case, unless the court determines otherwise.

(d)A party to a transmission made under this section that is not in court:

(1)shall provide at the party's own expense any equipment that is compatible with the equipment used in court; and

(2)may record the proceedings at the party's own expense.

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Legislative history

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 861 (H.B. 3474), Sec. 10.003, eff. September 1, 2023.