S.B. No. 402         AN ACT   relating to the preference given by trial courts to hearings and   trials for murder and capital murder offenses.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 23.101(a), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), the trial courts   of this state shall regularly and frequently set hearings and   trials of pending matters, giving preference to hearings and trials   of the following:                (1)  temporary injunctions;                (2)  criminal actions, with the following actions given   preference over other criminal actions:                      (A)  criminal actions against defendants who are   detained in jail pending trial;                      (B)  criminal actions involving a charge that a   person committed an act of family violence, as defined by Section   71.004, Family Code;                      (C)  an offense under:                            (i)  Section 19.02, 19.03, 21.02, or 21.11,   Penal Code;                            (ii)  Chapter 22, Penal Code, if the victim   of the alleged offense is younger than 17 years of age;                            (iii)  Section 25.02, Penal Code, if the   victim of the alleged offense is younger than 17 years of age;                            (iv)  Section 25.06, Penal Code;                            (v)  Section 43.25, Penal Code; or                            (vi)  Section 20A.02(a)(7), 20A.02(a)(8),   or 20A.03, Penal Code;                      (D)  an offense described by Article 62.001(6)(C)   or (D), Code of Criminal Procedure; and                      (E)  criminal actions against persons who are   detained as provided by Section 51.12, Family Code, after transfer   for prosecution in criminal court under Section 54.02, Family Code;                (3)  election contests and suits under the Election   Code;                (4)  orders for the protection of the family under   Subtitle B, Title 4, Family Code;                (5)  appeals of final rulings and decisions of the   division of workers' compensation of the Texas Department of   Insurance regarding workers' compensation claims and claims under   the Federal Employers' Liability Act and the Jones Act;                (6)  appeals of final orders of the commissioner of the   General Land Office under Section 51.3021, Natural Resources Code;                (7)  actions in which the claimant has been diagnosed   with malignant mesothelioma, other malignant asbestos-related   cancer, malignant silica-related cancer, or acute silicosis; and                (8)  appeals brought under Section 42.01 or 42.015, Tax   Code, of orders of appraisal review boards of appraisal districts   established for counties with a population of less than 175,000.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.             ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                 I hereby certify that S.B. No. 402 passed the Senate on   March 15, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 1.       ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate                I hereby certify that S.B. No. 402 passed the House on   May 23, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 135, Nays 3, two   present not voting.       ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House            Approved:     ______________________________                Date       ______________________________              Governor