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Bill

A 694

Requires notice of risk of deportation of non-citizens, prior to accepting a plea

2025 Regular Session Introduced by William Colton and 2 co-sponsors

Requires notice of deportation risk to non-citizen defendants before a plea is accepted, ensuring informed decisions and affecting plea negotiations and court procedures.

REFERRED TO CODES
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 694

Summary of Bill A 694

Quick snapshot

  • Bill number: A 694
  • Title: Requires notice of risk of deportation of non-citizens, prior to accepting a plea
  • Status: Referred to Codes
  • Introduced: January 8, 2025
  • Sponsors:
    • Primary: Catalina Cruz
    • Cosponsors: Demond Meeks, William Colton
  • Related bills (prior-session): A 754, A 2345, A 4417, A 4963, A 4166, A 643, A 2321, A 9877, A 1481, A 9950, A 3057

Purpose and intent

  • The bill appears aimed at ensuring that non-citizen defendants are informed about potential deportation risks before a plea is accepted. This aligns with due process considerations, giving defendants fuller information to make informed decisions about entering pleas in criminal cases.

Key provisions (based on the title and summary)

  • The core requirement would be that a notice regarding the risk of deportation must be provided to non-citizen defendants prior to the court accepting a plea.
  • The bill’s text would specify the timing, manner, and content of the notice, as well as who is responsible for delivering it (e.g., judge, clerk, or defense counsel) and any required documentation or compliance steps.
  • Possible inclusion of exceptions, safeguards, or follow-up obligations to ensure notice has been provided and understood (these details would appear in the enacted language).
  • The measure may outline potential consequences for non-compliance or for defense counsel in ensuring notice is provided.

Affected parties and impact

  • Primary affected group: Non-citizen defendants who are considering or entering pleas in criminal cases.
  • Other affected parties: Courts (Judiciary), defense attorneys, prosecutors, and court personnel responsible for plea proceedings and documentation.
  • Potential impacts:
    • Greater awareness of immigration consequences among defendants.
    • Possible changes to plea negotiations, with defendants able to factor deportation risk into decisions.
    • Increased procedural requirements for plea proceedings and record-keeping.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • The bill has been introduced and referred to the Codes Committee, indicating it will move through committee review before potential floor consideration.
  • The duplicate entry of “REFERRED TO CODES” on the legislative actions list likely reflects a clerical duplication rather than a substantive difference.
  • As a derivative of prior-session bills (listed as related), this proposal may reflect ongoing legislative interest in immigration consequences and plea practices.

Next steps

  • If the Codes Committee approves, the bill would proceed to further legislative steps (potential amendments, floor votes, and, if passed, passage to the other legislative chamber and ultimately the governor’s desk). Monitoring committee reports and sponsor statements will clarify detailed provisions once the bill text is released.

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

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