HB 1706 Summary

• Creates the "Pretrial Procedures Modernization Act of 2025" to modernize criminal pretrial procedures, including requiring arrested defendants be brought before a district court judge for a pretrial release hearing within 48 hours (inclusive of weekends and holidays).

• Establishes comprehensive pretrial release hearing procedures requiring courts to consider defendant's ability to pay, provide procedural protections including right to counsel and ability to present evidence, and establish presumptions of inability to pay based on income, government assistance, homelessness, and other financial factors.

• Reduces preliminary hearing time limitation from 9 months to 60 days from initial appearance and establishes limited grounds for delays when defendant is in pretrial detention (illness, unavailable evidence/witnesses, incompetency proceedings).

• Creates statewide pretrial services programs within each judicial district supervised by the Administrative Office of the Courts, with chief administrative officers employed for each district to screen and evaluate defendants and provide recommendations to courts.

• Modifies bail procedures to establish pre-appearance bail schedules (except traffic offenses), require bail modification hearings within 48 hours if person remains in jail, prohibit bond modifications/forfeitures absent hearings, and mandate discovery completion before guilty pleas; effective November 1, 2025.