Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to testimony by a minor witness using two-way, closed-circuit equipment
Topics:Courts & civil law
Same legislation: HF 602
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 17, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 17, 2025
- Done: House committeeFebruary 24, 2025
- Skipped: Passes the HouseContinued as HF 602
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became HF 602 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 602 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Courts could allow children to testify from a different room instead of being in the same room as the person they are accusing. This change uses video and audio equipment so the courtroom can see and hear the child while the child can also see and hear the court. This helps protect young witnesses from being too upset to speak during a trial.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to testimony by a minor witness using two-way, closed-circuit equipment. The bill provides that a court may protect a minor from trauma caused by testifying in the physical presence of a defendant where it would impair the minor’s ability to communicate, by ordering that the testimony of the minor be taken in a room other than the courtroom. The testimony will be televised by two-way, closed-circuit equipment with both audio and video feeds for listening and viewing in the courtroom. Current law does not specify that the closed-circuit H.F. _____ equipment have two-way capabilities.
House subcommittee
Named February 6, 2025. On February 18, 2025 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
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91st General Assembly