Tex. Code of Criminal Procedure § 31A.003
This is the official text of Tex. Code of Criminal Procedure § 31A.003, part of Texas’s Code of Criminal Procedure — sets the procedural rules for criminal cases in Texas.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
§ 31A.003. CHANGE OF VENUE ON STATE'S MOTION.
Official statutory text
(a) In a felony or misdemeanor case punishable by confinement, the attorney representing the state may file a written motion requesting a change of venue on the basis that:
(1) a fair and impartial trial cannot be safely and speedily held because of:
(A) existing combinations or influences in favor of the defendant; or
(B) the lawless condition of affairs in the county; or
(2) the life of the prisoner or of any witness would be jeopardized by a trial in the county in which the case is pending.
(b) On receipt of a motion filed under Subsection (a), the judge shall:
(1) hear evidence on the motion; and
(2) if the judge is satisfied that the motion is sufficiently supported and that justice will be served by granting the motion, order a change of venue to any county in the judicial district in which the case is pending or in an adjoining judicial district.
(1) a fair and impartial trial cannot be safely and speedily held because of:
(A) existing combinations or influences in favor of the defendant; or
(B) the lawless condition of affairs in the county; or
(2) the life of the prisoner or of any witness would be jeopardized by a trial in the county in which the case is pending.
(b) On receipt of a motion filed under Subsection (a), the judge shall:
(1) hear evidence on the motion; and
(2) if the judge is satisfied that the motion is sufficiently supported and that justice will be served by granting the motion, order a change of venue to any county in the judicial district in which the case is pending or in an adjoining judicial district.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Dealing with a criminal defense matter in Texas?
See all Texas Criminal Defense lawyers
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.