HB2594 - Relating to the venue for the prosecution of certain criminal conduct involving theft.

      H.B. No. 2594         AN ACT   relating to the venue for the prosecution of certain criminal   conduct involving theft.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Article 13A.251, Code of Criminal Procedure, is   amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:           (a-1)     An offense involving theft of intangible personal   property may be prosecuted in the county:                 (1)     in which the person whose property was unlawfully   appropriated resides;                 (2)  in which the defendant is apprehended; or                 (3)  to which the defendant is extradited.          SECTION 2.  Article 13A.501, Code of Criminal Procedure, is   amended to read as follows:          Art. 13A.501.  ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.     Engaging in organized criminal activity may be prosecuted in:                (1)  any county in which an act is committed to effect   an objective of the combination;                 (2)     if the prosecution is based on an offense   involving theft of intangible personal property, the county:                       (A)     in which the person whose property was   unlawfully appropriated resides;                       (B)  in which the defendant is apprehended; or                       (C)  to which the defendant is extradited;                 (3)     if the prosecution is based on an offense   classified as a felony under Chapter 32, Penal Code:                       (A)  any county in which a victim resides;                       (B)     the county in which the defendant is   apprehended; or                       (C)     the county to which the defendant is   extradited; or                 (4)  [ (2) ]  if the prosecution is based on an offense   classified as a felony under the Tax Code, any county in which venue   is proper under the Tax Code for the offense.          SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only   to the prosecution of an offense committed on or after the effective   date of this Act. The prosecution of 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 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 2594 was passed by the House on May 8,   2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, 2 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House                 I certify that H.B. No. 2594 was passed by the Senate on May   29, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate       APPROVED:  _____________________                      Date                           _____________________                    Governor