relative to witness fees in criminal cases.

HB 697 changes witness fee rules for civilian witnesses in criminal court. It specifies that witnesses only qualify for daily fees and mileage reimbursement if they must return to court for a second or subsequent day - due to no fault of their own - after their initial appearance. The bill aligns these fees with federal standards (28 U.S.C. §1821) and does not cover payment for the first day of testimony. This rule applies to criminal cases starting January 1, 2026.