Senate advances measure updating procedures for insanity evaluations and defendant appearances

House Bill 1058, which makes targeted changes to the affirmative defense of not guilty by reason of insanity, passed second reading on Feb. 14, 2025, and was ordered engrossed and placed on the calendar for third reading.

Senator Amabile, speaking as sponsor, described the measure as primarily a cleanup bill that updates statutory language and modestly adjusts procedures for sanity examinations and in-court appearances. "This bill is primarily a cleanup bill," Amabile said, adding that the bill permits a defendant appearing for a sanity examination by video to wear normal clothing rather than jail clothing and requires that visible shackles be hidden from camera view so juries are not biased. The bill also disallows certain medically invalid practices, which Amabile identified by example, saying they have not been used in years.

Senator Carson registered formal opposition from the committee stage and reiterated that view on the floor. "I do wanna note that I oppose this bill in the judiciary committee. I don't think it's a necessary change. I think it's defendant-centric," Carson said, adding that the change could send an unwelcome message to victims.

The bill was moved for consideration on the floor and adopted on second reading; it was then ordered placed on the calendar for third reading and final passage. The committee-of-the-whole report listed the bill as passed on second reading and placed on the calendar for third reading.