89R9199 MEW-D
By: Hinojosa of Nueces S.B. No. 2229
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to change of venue in certain criminal cases involving a
peace officer.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 31A, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended by adding Article 31A.0021 to read as
follows:
Art. 31A.0021. CHANGE OF VENUE FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES
COMMITTED BY PEACE OFFICERS. On a motion by the attorney
representing the state or the defendant or on the judge's own
motion, the judge shall order a change of venue if the defendant:
(1) is a peace officer or was a peace officer at the
time of the alleged offense; and
(2) has been charged with an offense allegedly
committed under color of the defendant's employment as a peace
officer.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a defendant charged with an offense committed on or after the
effective date of this Act. A defendant charged with an offense
committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the
law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former
law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this
section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this
Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.