Is it true that you must be given a preliminary hearing within 60 days of your arrest while being held or charges get dismissed?

The court will not continue a preliminary hearing past the sixty days unless the defendant has waved time. Your husband has an attorney and you should direct your questions to him. It would be unethical for me to comment on an other attorney's case.

Why don't you ask this question to his lawyer?

This is a very complicated question to answer, especially without a full understanding of the facts and circumstances. The basic answer is yes, a prelim must be had within 60 days of the filing of the complaint (or arraignment). There is also a 10 day rule. When the prelim is continued (very often) beyond 10 days or 60 days, a time waiver must be taken. Most of the time - especially in a serious case - a general waiver is taken, meaning that the defendant waives both the 10 and 60 day rule. Then, the prelim is/can be set beyond 60 days. Even if the case must be dismissed for exceeding these limits, the DA can simply file it again and the case starts over; it does not mean the case just goes away. As to your discovery question, the law is complex as to the accused's right to discovery before the prelim. The attorneys usually try to work it out informally, but when a motion is filed these issues come before the court. In this situation, a qualified criminal defense attorney is needed.