TX HB578

Amends Article 37.071 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to require unanimous jury agreement to impose the death penalty in capital cases

Changes the voting threshold so that if the jury cannot unanimously answer "yes" to special issues (such as future dangerousness), they must answer "no" — eliminating the previous rule allowing a "no" answer with only 10 or more jurors agreeing

Requires unanimous jury agreement to reject mitigating circumstances; if the jury cannot unanimously answer "no" on the mitigation issue, they must answer "yes" — replacing the prior 10-juror threshold

Maintains that jurors need not agree on what specific evidence supports their findings on mitigating circumstances or negative answers to special issues

Applies only to criminal proceedings commencing on or after September 1, 2025; proceedings begun before that date remain governed by prior law