Relating to a defendant's appearance by telephone or videoconference in a justice or municipal court.

HB 4697 allows defendants in justice or municipal court hearings to appear via telephone or videoconference instead of in person if a judge determines that in-person attendance would cause significant difficulty. It directly affects individuals facing minor criminal charges in local courts who face barriers like transportation issues or health concerns. The bill requires a judge to first assess whether appearing in person would create undue hardship before approving remote appearances. This change applies to all proceedings starting on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.