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SB 25-240

Electronic Discovery in Criminal Cases Task Force

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Judy Amabile and 9 co-sponsors

SB 25-240 creates an Electronic Discovery in Criminal Cases Task Force to study e-discovery practices, identify gaps, and draft model policies and recommendations.

Governor Signed
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Bill Summary · SB 25-240

Summary — SB 25-240: Electronic Discovery in Criminal Cases Task Force

Status: Governor Signed (April 28, 2025)
Introduced: March 31, 2025
Primary Sponsors: Shannon Bird; Rick Taggart; Barbara Kirkmeyer; Jeff Bridges
Cosponsors: J. Amabile; D. Roberts; M. Carter; C. Espenoza; M. Weissman; E. Sirota

What the bill does (purpose and intent)

SB 25-240 establishes a statutory task force charged with reviewing and making recommendations about electronic discovery (often called "e-discovery") practices in criminal cases. The intent is to identify barriers, inconsistencies, resource constraints, training needs, and best practices for handling digital evidence — including data from mobile devices, cloud services, social media, and other electronic sources — so that criminal discovery is fair, efficient, and compliant with constitutional and statutory protections.

Key provisions (high-level)

Note: The full bill text was not provided. The title and legislative history indicate the bill creates a task force; specific membership, duties, deadlines, reporting requirements, and funding appear in the enacted text. Typical elements in such legislation (and likely present) include:
- Creation of an Electronic Discovery in Criminal Cases Task Force.
- Specification of membership representing prosecutors, public defenders, judges or court administrators, law enforcement, defense bar, technology/forensic experts, privacy or civil liberties representatives, and legislators or legislative staff.
- Charge to study current e-discovery practices, identify legal or operational gaps, and draft model policies, protocols, or statutory recommendations.
- Requirement to solicit stakeholder input and possibly hold public meetings/hearings.
- Deliverable: a written report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by a statutorily set deadline.

Readers should consult the enacted statute for precise membership, deadlines, and reporting dates.

Who is affected

  • Prosecuting agencies and district attorneys (practice and resource planning).
  • Defense counsel, including public defenders and appointed counsel (access to and handling of electronic evidence).
  • Law enforcement agencies and crime labs (data collection and preservation practices).
  • Courts and court administrators (procedural rules, case management).
  • Defendants and victims (rights to fair process, privacy considerations).
  • Technology vendors and forensic service providers (standards, training, procurement).

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Introduced in the Senate on March 31, 2025; passed both chambers without amendments (Senate and House readings April 1–10, 2025).
  • Sent to the Governor April 17, 2025; signed by the Governor April 28, 2025.
  • Effective date: not specified in the materials provided. Unless the statute sets a later date, bills signed by the Governor typically become law on the date specified in the bill or under the state’s default effective date rules — consult the enacted bill for the exact effective date and any reporting deadlines.

For the exact statutory language, membership list, deadlines, and any appropriation or fiscal impacts, refer to the enrolled bill text or the state’s legislative information system.

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

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