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SB 297

Relating to the reimbursement of expenses to certain counsel appointed to represent a defendant in a criminal proceeding.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Charles Perry

SB 297 modifies state reimbursement rates for court-appointed criminal defense attorneys in Texas, affecting public defense quality and state expenditures.

Referred to Criminal Justice
#criminalprocedure--defensecounsel(i0207) #lawyers(i0515) #salaries&expenses(i0745) #travel(s0220)
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Bill Summary · SB 297

Legislative bill overview

SB 297 addresses compensation for court-appointed defense attorneys in Texas criminal cases. The bill modifies how the state reimburses expenses for counsel assigned to defend indigent defendants, though specific reimbursement changes are not detailed in the available legislative history.

Why is this important

Court-appointed counsel reimbursement directly affects the quality of criminal defense available to low-income defendants and influences whether qualified attorneys will accept appointed cases. This impacts both the fairness of criminal proceedings and the state budget allocated to the criminal justice system.

Potential points of contention

  • Adequacy of compensation rates: Whether proposed reimbursement levels are sufficient to attract experienced, quality attorneys or whether they remain below market rates, potentially limiting defendant representation quality
  • State budget impact: Increased reimbursement could strain state finances, while insufficient increases may leave the public defense system underfunded
  • Geographic disparities: Rural versus urban areas may face different challenges in attracting qualified counsel at proposed reimbursement rates

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

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