Tex. Codes » Penal Code · TITLE 5. OFFENSES AGAINST THE PERSON · CHAPTER 21. SEXUAL OFFENSES
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Tex. Penal Code § 21.01 (2026)

Definitions

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Sec. 21.01. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Deviate sexual intercourse" means:

(A) any contact between any part of the genitals of one person and the mouth or anus of another person; or

(B) the penetration of the genitals or the anus of another person with an object.

(2) "Sexual contact" means, except as provided by Section 21.11 or 21.12, any touching of the anus, breast, or any part of the genitals of another person with intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person.

(3) "Sexual intercourse" means any penetration of the female sex organ by the male sex organ.

(4) "Spouse" means a person to whom a person is legally married under Subtitle A, Title 1, Family Code, or a comparable law of another jurisdiction.

Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 373, ch. 168, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 27, 1979; Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 203, ch. 96, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1981; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 739, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 268 (S.B. 6), Sec. 1.124, eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 631 (H.B. 246), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2021.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 186 cases (15 in the last 5 years), 1977–2026 · leading case: Pizzo v. State, 235 S.W.3d 711 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007).
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Pizzo v. State, 235 S.W.3d 711 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). · cites it 6× “[22] TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 21.11. [23] TEX. PENAL CODE ANN.”
Patterson v. State, 152 S.W.3d 88 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). · cites it 2× “" Tex. Penal Code, § 21.01(2). Section 21.11, Indecency with a Child, which includes the offense of indecency by exposure, defines "sexual contact" as the following acts, if committed with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person: (1) any touching by a…”
Gregory v. State, 56 S.W.3d 164 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2001). · cites it 2× “" Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 21.01 (2) (Vernon Supp.”
Duron v. State, 956 S.W.2d 547 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). · cites it 2× “Appellant contends the indictment is constitutionally void ab initio because legs are not referenced in the definition of "sexual contact" under Texas Penal Code § 21.01(2). This contention is without merit.”
Lawrence v. State, 41 S.W.3d 349 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2001). · cites it 4× “" TEX. PEN.CODE ANN. § 21.01 (Vernon 1994).”
Cook v. Gates, 528 F.3d 42 (1st Cir. 2008). · cites it 2× “" Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.01 (1)(2007). [5] Sylvester v.”
State v. Smith, 766 So. 2d 501 (La. 2000). · cites it 2× “1985); Tex. Penal Code Ann. §§ 21.01 (1), 21.06 (West 1989); Utah Code Ann.”
Billy v. State, 77 S.W.3d 427 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2002). · cites it 2× “Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 21.01(2) (Vernon 1994).”
William MacDonald v. Tim Moose, 710 F.3d 154 (4th Cir. 2013). · cites it 2× “at 563 (citing Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 21.01 ). Overruling Bowers, Lawrence explained that decisions made in private by consenting adults "concerning the intima- cies of their physical relationship, even when not intended to produce offspring, are a form of ‘liberty’ protected by…”
Franklin v. State, 193 S.W.3d 616 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2006). · cites it 2× “Tex. Penal Code Ann. §§ 21.01 (1)(B)(2), 21.”
Duron v. State, 915 S.W.2d 920 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1996). · cites it 4× “" TEX.PENAL CODE § 21.01(2) (1994). The appellant asserts his acts alleged in the indictment do not fit the statutory definition of "sexual contact" because he touched his genitals against a non-genital area of the complainant.”
Guia v. State, 723 S.W.2d 763 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1986). · cites it 2× “See TEX.PENAL CODE ANN. § 21.01 (Vernon 1981).”
Show all 186 citing cases →
Tex. Penal Code § 21.01(1): 9 cases
State v. Morales, 869 S.W.2d 941 (Tex. 1994).
Aylor v. State, 727 S.W.2d 727 (Tex. App.—Austin 1987).
State v. Romano, 155 P.3d 1102 (Haw. 2007).
Cyr v. Walls, 439 F. Supp. 697 (N.D. Tex. 1977).
Carlos Diaz De Leon v. City of El Paso, 353 S.W.3d 285 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2011).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.01(1)(A): 7 cases
Brown v. State, 649 S.W.2d 160 (Tex. App.—Austin 1983).
Valdez v. State, 993 S.W.2d 346 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1999).
Cummings v. State, 651 S.W.2d 14 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 1983).
Rivera v. State, 684 S.W.2d 174 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1984).
Williams v. State, 184 So. 3d 1064 (Ala. Crim. App. 2015).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.01(1)(B): 1 case
C.M. v. State, 680 S.W.2d 53 (Tex. App.—Austin 1984).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.01(1)(B)(2): 1 case
Franklin v. State, 193 S.W.3d 616 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2006). “Tex. Penal Code Ann. §§ 21.01 (1)(B)(2), 21.”
Tex. Penal Code § 21.01(1)(B)(i): 2 cases
David Monroe Smitherman v. State of Texas, No. 05-21-00196-CR (Tex. App.—Dallas June 10, 2022).
David Monroe Smitherman v. State of Texas, No. 05-21-00197-CR (Tex. App.—Dallas June 10, 2022).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.01(2): 51 cases
Pizzo v. State, 235 S.W.3d 711 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). “[22] TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 21.11. [23] TEX. PENAL CODE ANN.”
Patterson v. State, 152 S.W.3d 88 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). “" Tex. Penal Code, § 21.01(2). Section 21.11, Indecency with a Child, which includes the offense of indecency by exposure, defines "sexual contact" as the following acts, if committed with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person: (1) any touching by a…”
Duron v. State, 956 S.W.2d 547 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). “Appellant contends the indictment is constitutionally void ab initio because legs are not referenced in the definition of "sexual contact" under Texas Penal Code § 21.01(2). This contention is without merit.”
Billy v. State, 77 S.W.3d 427 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2002). “Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 21.01(2) (Vernon 1994).”
Duron v. State, 915 S.W.2d 920 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1996). “" TEX.PENAL CODE § 21.01(2) (1994). The appellant asserts his acts alleged in the indictment do not fit the statutory definition of "sexual contact" because he touched his genitals against a non-genital area of the complainant.”
Tex. Penal Code § 21.01(3): 6 cases
State v. Flores, 772 P.2d 589 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1989).
Martinez v. State, 662 S.W.2d 393 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1983).
Connally v. State, 838 S.W.2d 646 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1992).
Allen v. State, 658 S.W.2d 642 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 1983).
Dickinson v. State, 667 S.W.2d 576 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1984).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.01(a)(1): 3 cases
Jeremy Allen Mathis v. State, No. 12-20-00020-CR (Tex. App.—Tyler Mar. 31, 2021).
Elias Villarreal v. State of Texas, No. 03-23-00482-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Aug. 13, 2025).
Albert Mitchell, Jr. v. State of Texas, No. 03-23-00785-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Oct. 30, 2025).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.01(a)(2): 2 cases
Marsh v. State, 749 S.W.2d 646 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 1988).
Richard Earl Curtis v. State of Texas, No. 07-22-00273-CR (Tex. App.—Amarillo Aug. 10, 2023).
Tex. Penal Code § 21.01(b): 1 case
Roberto Hernandez v. State, No. 05-13-00202-CR (Tex. App.—Dallas Jan. 7, 2014).
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