HB495 (Capital Felony Case Amendments)

HB495 modifies and streamlines competency proceedings, removing important protections for individuals with intellectual disabilities by: requiring initial IQ tests and penalizing defendants who object to them, changing the criteria and process for automatic review of death sentences, creating expedited review timelines, and creating bars for appeal / ineffective assistance of counsel challenges. This bill risks turning thoughtful competency proceedings into a reckless sprint towards execution.