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HB 3119

Relating to the preservation of evidence collected from a forensic medical examination for certain sexual assaults.

89th Legislature (2025)

HB 3119 mandates preservation of forensic evidence from sexual assault medical examinations, establishing chain-of-custody requirements to prevent evidence loss and support future criminal investigations and prosecutions.

Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
#crimes--againstpersons--sexual(i0171) #criminalprocedure--general(i0208) #evidence(s0250) #forensictesting(s0545) #lawenforcement(i0510) #sexualassault(s4375)
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Bill Summary · HB 3119

Legislative bill overview

HB 3119 establishes requirements for preserving physical evidence collected during forensic medical examinations in sexual assault cases. The bill likely creates statutory obligations for law enforcement and medical facilities to maintain chain-of-custody standards and prevent evidence deterioration or loss over extended periods.

Why is this important

Sexual assault survivors depend on forensic evidence to support criminal investigations and prosecutions, which may occur years after the assault. Evidence preservation directly affects prosecution success rates and the ability to identify and apprehend perpetrators, making this a critical safeguard for both victim rights and public safety.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and resource burden: Compliance requirements may impose significant storage and administrative costs on hospitals, law enforcement agencies, and smaller jurisdictions with limited budgets
  • Statute of limitations conflicts: The bill's preservation timelines may clash with existing statutes of limitations or create ambiguity about how long evidence must be retained
  • Implementation specificity: Unclear definitions of "certain sexual assaults" could create inconsistent application across different law enforcement agencies or allow selective enforcement

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

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