88R6653 MZM-F
 
  By: Whitmire S.B. No. 402
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
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.