HB 444 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to expand the use of writs of habeas corpus for convictions based on outdated or unreliable scientific evidence. The bill provides relief for individuals if new scientific evidence emerges that was unavailable during their trial or contradicts evidence presented at trial. Courts are required to address the substance of scientific claims in a written decision and cannot deny relief under Article 11.073 without doing so. The bill establishes criteria for determining the relevance and admissibility of scientific evidence and allows indigent defendants to receive appointed counsel for post-conviction habeas corpus proceedings under Article 11.073. Applications for relief filed before the act’s effective date will follow previous law. The act takes effect on December 1, 2025.