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HB 5696

AN ACT CONCERNING REVOCATION OF BOND FOR CERTAIN VIOLENT OFFENDERS.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tim Ackert and 9 co-sponsors

The bill allows revoking pretrial release for defendants charged with specified violent offenses, enabling stricter conditions or detention to protect public safety.

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Judiciary
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Bill Summary · HB 5696

Summary — HB 5696

Title: AN ACT CONCERNING REVOCATION OF BOND FOR CERTAIN VIOLENT OFFENDERS
Classification: Bill (Subject: Violent offenders)
Introduced: April 30, 2025
Status: Enacted; effective September 1, 2025

Note: The official bill text was not provided. The following summarizes the bill’s purpose and likely effects based on its title and legislative history, identifies typical types of provisions found in bills with this subject, and lists who would be affected. For precise statutory language and legal effects, consult the enrolled bill text and legislative analysis.

Purpose / Intent

Based on the title, the bill’s primary intent is to authorize or expand procedures by which bond (pretrial release) can be revoked for defendants charged with specified violent offenses. The aim is typically to increase public safety and ensure detention of defendants who pose a danger or who violate conditions of release.

Key provisions (inferred from title)

Because the text is not included, these are the categories of changes such a bill commonly contains:
- Definitions: enumerates which offenses qualify as “violent offenders” for purposes of bond revocation (e.g., assault, robbery, sexual assault, homicide-related charges).
- Grounds for revocation: authorizes prosecutors, pretrial services, or courts to move to revoke bond if the defendant is charged with a violent offense, violates release conditions, or poses a danger or flight risk.
- Procedural protections: establishes notice requirements, opportunity for a hearing, standard of proof needed to revoke (e.g., probable cause, clear and convincing evidence), and whether detention is permitted pending hearing.
- Conditions upon release: allows imposition of stricter conditions (electronic monitoring, surrender of firearms, no-contact orders).
- Timing and process: sets timelines for hearings, appeals, and revisiting release decisions.
- Recordkeeping and reporting: may require reporting on revocations or data collection about impacts.

Who would be affected

  • Defendants charged with the specified violent offenses (increased risk of pretrial detention).
  • Prosecutors and defense attorneys (new motions and hearings).
  • Judges and court staff (additional hearings, written findings).
  • Law enforcement and pretrial services (enforcement of new or stricter conditions).
  • Local jails and state correctional systems (potential increases in pretrial detention population).
  • Victims and communities (potential changes in perceived safety and victim protection).

Procedural timeline (selected highlights)

  • Referred to Joint Committee on Judiciary: Jan 21, 2025
  • Filed: Apr 30, 2025
  • Committee hearings: May 6 and May 22, 2025; reported favorably May 23, 2025
  • Passed House: May 16, 2025
  • Passed Senate as amended: May 26, 2025; House concurred in amendments May 29, 2025
  • Enrolled/reported: May 30, 2025; signed by chambers end of May/early June 2025
  • Filed without Governor’s signature: Jun 20, 2025 (became law without signature)
  • Effective date: September 1, 2025

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Public safety: may reduce pretrial releases of defendants deemed dangerous but could also increase pretrial incarceration.
  • Legal and constitutional issues: changes must preserve due process and comply with Eighth Amendment protections against excessive bail.
  • Operational costs: increased jail populations and court workloads could raise local/state costs.
  • Equity concerns: reforms that broaden detention can disproportionately affect low-income and minority defendants.

For a definitive understanding of operative language, eligibility criteria, burden of proof, and safeguards, review the enrolled bill text and the Judiciary Committee analysis.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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