A new bill authored by State Rep. Wesley Virdell in the Texas House seeks to ensure pretrial hearings occur promptly following a defendant’s competency restoration, according to the Texas Legislature website.
The bill on Financial, Property Interests, and State Finances category, introduced as HB 305 during the 89(1) legislative session on Thursday, Aug. 14, was formally listed with the short title: ’Relating to the creation of a flood recovery loan program to provide low-interest loans to persons who are victims of flood-related disasters’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill mandates that any pretrial hearing in a criminal case must be conducted within 30 days after the court has determined that a defendant’s competency has been restored. It does not require the final resolution of the criminal case within a specific timeframe, focusing solely on the scheduling of the pretrial hearing post-competency restoration. The effective date of the bill is set for September 1, 2025.
Wesley Virdell, a member of the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, proposed another three bills during the 89(1) legislative session. He is also a member of the House Committee on S/C on Juvenile Justice and a member of the House Committee on Land & Resource Management.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
| Legislative Session | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89(1) | HB 306 | 08/14/2025 | Relating to a study and report by the Upper Guadalupe River Authority of risks from and solutions to flooding |
| 89(1) | HB 292 | 08/07/2025 | Relating to establishment of the disaster recovery fund |
| 89(1) | HB 206 | 07/25/2025 | Relating to a preference in state purchasing for certain goods and services used in a disaster area |
| 89(R) | HB 5702 | 05/09/2025 | Relating to the creation of the Llano Historic Railroad Authority; providing authority to impose fees |
| 89(R) | HB 5222 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the eligibility of persons finally convicted of a felony to run for certain public offices |
| 89(R) | HB 4931 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to aquifer storage and recovery projects that transect a portion of the Edwards Aquifer |
| 89(R) | HB 4817 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to reliability requirements and associated locational marginal pricing for certain electric generation facilities |
| 89(R) | HB 4695 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the approval of subdivision plans and plats by a municipality |
| 89(R) | HB 4472 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the registration fee for certain trailers, travel trailers, and semitrailers |
| 89(R) | HB 4385 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to residence for purposes of voting |
| 89(R) | HB 4184 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to the role of a jury in a criminal case |
| 89(R) | HB 3956 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to a parent-directed supplemental services and instructional materials program for public school students; authorizing a fee |
| 89(R) | HB 3938 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to the formation of a public education scholarship program |
| 89(R) | HB 3930 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to the eligibility of land for appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land on the basis of its use for raising or keeping exotic animals |
| 89(R) | HB 3763 | 03/04/2025 | Relating to certain audits of employers conducted by the Texas Workforce Commission |
| 89(R) | HB 3179 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to the authority of certain counties to impose a hotel occupancy tax |
| 89(R) | HB 3178 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to the authority of certain counties to impose a hotel occupancy tax |
| 89(R) | HB 3176 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to the manufacture, sale, and distribution of products developed using mRNA material in the prevention or treatment of a communicable disease |
| 89(R) | HB 3175 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to a statewide order issued by the commissioner of state health services authorizing a pharmacist to dispense ivermectin |
| 89(R) | HB 3056 | 02/19/2025 | Relating to municipal and county regulation of certain wind and solar power facilities |
| 89(R) | HB 3055 | 02/19/2025 | Relating to the authority of a political subdivision to acquire real property |
| 89(R) | HB 3053 | 02/19/2025 | Relating to municipal and county firearm buyback programs |
| 89(R) | HB 2774 | 02/13/2025 | Relating to the authority of the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District to regulate structures near Medina Lake |
| 89(R) | HB 2759 | 02/12/2025 | Relating to the unlawful possession of a firearm by a person convicted of certain felony offenses |
| 89(R) | HB 2666 | 02/11/2025 | Relating to the punishment for the offense of arson involving a government building |
| 89(R) | HB 2658 | 02/11/2025 | Relating to the Kimble County Hospital District of Kimble County, Texas |
| 89(R) | HB 2656 | 02/11/2025 | Relating to motor vehicle stops by a peace officer operating an unmarked law enforcement motor vehicle |
| 89(R) | HB 2470 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to the age at which a person not otherwise prohibited by state or federal law from possessing a firearm may carry a handgun or is eligible for a license to carry a handgun |
| 89(R) | HB 2458 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to a defense to prosecution for the offense of aggravated assault |
| 89(R) | HB 2066 | 01/24/2025 | Relating to the expunction of arrest records and files for certain defendants placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for the unlawful carrying of a handgun |
| 89(R) | HB 1923 | 01/16/2025 | Relating to removing the requirement that an applicant for or holder of a license to carry a handgun provide fingerprints |
| 89(R) | HB 1921 | 01/16/2025 | Relating to the operation of certain off-highway vehicles on certain roadways |
| 89(R) | HB 1864 | 01/15/2025 | Relating to an exemption from the use tax imposed on certain motor vehicles brought into this state by new Texas residents |
| 89(R) | HB 1387 | 11/18/2024 | Relating to a person’s eligibility to sit for the examination for a license to practice law in this state |
| 89(R) | HB 1386 | 11/18/2024 | Relating to license plates issued for and displayed on passenger cars and light trucks |
| 89(R) | HB 1385 | 11/18/2024 | Relating to the labeling of beef and beef products; providing a civil penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 1384 | 11/18/2024 | Relating to the enforcement of certain standards for commercial motor vehicles |
| 89(R) | HB 1382 | 11/18/2024 | Relating to a prohibition on weather modification and control; creating a criminal offense |
| 89(R) | HB 1381 | 11/18/2024 | Relating to contracts with and the acceptance of money from certain foreign entities by public institutions of higher education |
| 89(R) | HB 1380 | 11/18/2024 | Relating to license plates issued for and displayed on passenger cars and light trucks |
| 89(R) | HB 1379 | 11/18/2024 | Relating to the authority of a game warden or other peace officer commissioned by the Parks and Wildlife Department to enter private property |
| 89(R) | HB 1378 | 11/18/2024 | Relating to municipal and county regulation of certain electric energy storage |
| 89(R) | HB 1377 | 11/18/2024 | Relating to the jurisdiction of certain international organizations |
| 89(R) | HB 1376 | 11/18/2024 | Relating to the authority of the public safety director of the Department of Public Safety to adopt rules requiring the use and installation of intrastate commercial motor vehicle electronic logging devices |
| 89(R) | HB 1374 | 11/18/2024 | Relating to the labeling of beef, pork, beef products, and pork products; providing a civil penalty |
