Texas · Senate Bill 402 · 88th Legislature, Regular Session

Relating to the preference given by trial courts to hearings and trials for murder and capital murder offenses.

SB 402 Sponsored by John Whitmire Became law

  1. Introduced Jan 12, 2023
  2. In committee Feb 15, 2023
  3. Passed the Senate Mar 15, 2023
  4. Passed the House May 23, 2023
  5. To the governor May 29, 2023
  6. Became law Jun 18, 2023

Every action

53 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

Show the 45 earlier steps
  1. SenateReceived by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. SenateFiled
  3. SenateRead first time
  4. SenateReferred to Criminal Justice
  5. CommitteeScheduled for public hearing on . . . · Senate Criminal Justice
  6. CommitteeMeeting cancelled · Senate Criminal Justice
  7. CommitteeScheduled for public hearing on . . . · Senate Criminal Justice
  8. CommitteeConsidered in public hearing · Senate Criminal Justice
  9. CommitteeTestimony taken in committee · Senate Criminal Justice
  10. CommitteeVote taken in committee · Senate Criminal Justice
  11. CommitteeReported favorably w/o amendments · Senate Criminal Justice
  12. SenateCommittee report printed and distributed
  13. SenateCo-author authorized
  14. SenateCo-author authorized
  15. SenatePlaced on intent calendar
  16. SenateCo-author authorized
  17. SenateRules suspended-Regular order of business
  18. SenateRecord vote
  19. SenateRead 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  20. SenateVote recorded in Journal
  21. SenateThree day rule suspended
  22. SenateRecord vote
  23. SenateRead 3rd time
  24. SenatePassed
  25. SenateRecord vote
  26. SenateReported engrossed
  27. HouseReceived from the Senate
  28. HouseRead first time
  29. HouseReferred to Criminal Jurisprudence
  30. CommitteeScheduled for public hearing on . . . · House Criminal Jurisprudence
  31. CommitteeConsidered in public hearing · House Criminal Jurisprudence
  32. CommitteeTestimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee · House Criminal Jurisprudence
  33. CommitteeLeft pending in committee · House Criminal Jurisprudence
  34. CommitteeConsidered in public hearing · House Criminal Jurisprudence
  35. CommitteeReported favorably w/o amendment(s) · House Criminal Jurisprudence
  36. HouseComte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  37. HouseCommittee report distributed
  38. HouseCommittee report sent to Calendars
  39. HouseConsidered in Calendars
  40. HousePlaced on General State Calendar
  41. HouseRead 2nd time
  42. HousePassed to 3rd reading
  43. HouseRead 3rd time
  44. HousePassed
  45. HouseRecord vote (RV#1990)
  1. HouseStatement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  2. SenateHouse passage reported
  3. SenateReported enrolled
  4. SenateSigned in the Senate
  5. HouseSigned in the House
  6. GovernorSent to the Governor
  7. GovernorSigned by the Governor
  8. GovernorEffective on 9/1/23

Roll calls

6 recorded votes: 4 on the floor, 2 in committee. Each shows how every member voted.

SB 402 , Relating to the preference given by trial courts to hearings and trials for murder and capital murder offenses. — The motion prevailed · Full Senate

Passed 30–0
Mar 15, 2023 · journal entry
Yes 30 No 0 Not voting 1
Democrats: 12 yes, 0 no Republicans: 18 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 30

Excused · 1

Senator Whitmire moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 402 be placed on its third reading and final passage. — The motion prevailed · Full Senate

Passed 30–0
Mar 15, 2023 · journal entry
Yes 30 No 0 Not voting 1
Democrats: 12 yes, 0 no Republicans: 18 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 30

Excused · 1

The bill was read third time and was passed · Full Senate

Passed 29–1
Mar 15, 2023 · journal entry
Yes 29 No 1 Not voting 1
Democrats: 12 yes, 0 no Republicans: 17 yes, 1 no
How each member voted

Yes · 29

No · 1

Excused · 1

SB 402 was passed · Full House

Passed 135–3
May 23, 2023 · journal entry
Yes 135 No 3 Not voting 11
Democrats: 58 yes, 0 no Republicans: 77 yes, 3 no
How each member voted

Yes · 135

No · 3

Not voting · 2

Absent · 3

Excused · 6

Committee and other votes

DateWhereQuestionResult
Mar 9, 2023 Senate Criminal Justice Criminal Justice: Reported favorably w/o amendments Passed 7–0
May 9, 2023 House Criminal Jurisprudence Criminal Jurisprudence: Reported favorably w/o amendment(s) Passed 9–0

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 4 cosponsors: 3 Republicans, 1 Democrat.

All 4 cosponsors

From Texas's official records (ftp.legis.state.tx.us), checked Nov 1, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.