HOUSTON, Texas– The Texas House of Representatives has approved House Bill 115, a proposal to expand the state’s junk science law and broaden appeal opportunities for individuals convicted using discredited or outdated scientific evidence.
The bill seeks to revise a law enacted more than a decade ago, which allows challenges to convictions based on invalid forensic methods.
House Bill 115 would provide state-funded legal representation for low-income defendants filing appeals under the junk science law.
The legislation includes provisions to allow courts to consider scientific evidence that was unavailable at the time of the original trial.
The Texas Defender Service and other legal organizations have publicly supported the measure. The legislation does not guarantee new trials but permits courts to revisit convictions if the underlying scientific evidence has been discredited.
The Texas House is expected to finalize the vote before the bill can be sent to the Senate. The timeline for further consideration remains unclear.
