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HB 4563

Relating to allowing a therapy or facility dog to accompany a child or a person with a disability during testimony in certain criminal cases.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Gene Wu

HB 4563 allows trained therapy and facility dogs to accompany children and disabled witnesses during criminal testimony to reduce anxiety and trauma in Texas courts.

Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence
#animals(i0035) #childwitnesses(s0028) #crimes--againstpersons--general(i0170) #crimes--againstpersons--sexual(i0171) #criminalprocedure--general(i0208) #disabilities #personswith(i0380) #minors--crimesagainst(i0532) #witnesses(s0015)
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Bill Summary · HB 4563

Legislative bill overview

HB 4563 permits therapy or facility dogs to accompany children or persons with disabilities while testifying in criminal proceedings in Texas. The bill allows these support animals to be present in the courtroom during witness testimony to provide emotional comfort and reduce anxiety during what can be a traumatic experience.

Why is this important

Children and people with disabilities often experience significant stress and trauma when testifying in criminal cases, particularly in cases involving abuse or violence. Having a trained support animal present can reduce anxiety, improve testimony coherence, and make the judicial process less harmful to vulnerable witnesses while potentially improving the quality of evidence presented to the court.

Potential points of contention

  • Defense rights concerns: Defense attorneys may argue that the presence of a support animal could influence jurors' perception of the witness or create unfair sympathy that prejudices their client's right to a fair trial
  • Definition and regulation: Ambiguity about what qualifies as a "therapy or facility dog" versus emotional support animals, and who certifies their training and appropriateness for courtroom settings
  • Courtroom logistics: Questions about how to manage animals in courtrooms, potential distractions, allergies among jurors/court staff, and whether this sets precedent for other accommodations that could complicate proceedings

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

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