Tex. Codes » Penal Code · TITLE 2. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY · CHAPTER 6. CULPABILITY GENERALLY
Texas Codes

Tex. Penal Code § 6.01 (2026)

Requirement Of Voluntary Act Or Omission

✓ current as of May 2026
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Sec. 6.01. REQUIREMENT OF VOLUNTARY ACT OR OMISSION. (a) A person commits an offense only if he voluntarily engages in conduct, including an act, an omission, or possession.

(b) Possession is a voluntary act if the possessor knowingly obtains or receives the thing possessed or is aware of his control of the thing for a sufficient time to permit him to terminate his control.

(c) A person who omits to perform an act does not commit an offense unless a law as defined by Section 1.07 provides that the omission is an offense or otherwise provides that he has a duty to perform the act.

Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 913, ch. 342, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1975; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 3, Sec. 1, eff. Feb. 25, 1993; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 346 cases (36 in the last 5 years), 1982–2026 · leading case: Farmer, Kody William, 411 S.W.3d 901 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).
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Farmer, Kody William, 411 S.W.3d 901 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). · cites it 8× “See Tex. Penal Code § 6.01(a). In relevant part, it states that "a person commits an offense only if he voluntarily engages in conduct, including an act" or "an omission.”
Alford v. State, 866 S.W.2d 619 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993). · cites it 8× “TEX.PENAL Code Ann. § 6.01 Practice Commentary (1974); Model Penal Code § 2.”
Oler v. State, 998 S.W.2d 363 (Tex. App. 1999). · cites it 16× “See TEX. PEN.CODE ANN. § 6.01 (Vernon 1994). [1] Appellant argues that because the State did not allege a statutory duty, the indictment is fundamentally defective.”
Brown v. State, 955 S.W.2d 276 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). · cites it 4× “" TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 6.01 (Vernon 1994).”
Hill v. State, 913 S.W.2d 581 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). · cites it 4× “Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 6.01(a). An "act" is defined as "a bodily movement, whether voluntary or involuntary, and includes speech.”
Ramirez-Memije v. State, 444 S.W.3d 624 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). · cites it 7× “Appellant concludes that the “trial court did not instruct the jury regarding the law of possession as enacted by the legislature in Texas Penal Code § 6.01, either in its abstract portion or in the application section of the jury charge.”
Rogers v. State, 105 S.W.3d 630 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). · cites it 2× “See Tex. Penal Code § 6.01, Practice Commentary (stating that 1970 proposed code contained a definition of voluntary act to "exclude from criminal responsibility involuntary and unconscious action such as convulsion, reflex, and coma,” and noting that this definition — "a bodily…”
VanBrackle v. State, 179 S.W.3d 708 (Tex. App. 2005). · cites it 2× “” See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 6.01 (a) (West 2003).”
Satchell v. State, 321 S.W.3d 127 (Tex. App. 2010). · cites it 3× “Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 6.01 (b) (Vernon 2003).”
Blackman v. State, 349 S.W.3d 10 (Tex. App. 2010). · cites it 4× “” Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 6.01 (b) (Vernon 2003).”
Nelson v. State, 149 S.W.3d 206 (Tex. App. 2004). · cites it 2× “9 (1986)); see also Tex. Penal Code ANN. §§ 6.01, 8.01 (Vernon 2003) (describing the insanity defense and voluntary act requirements).”
Bollinger v. State, 224 S.W.3d 768 (Tex. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 6.01(a) (Vernon 2003).”
Show all 346 citing cases →
— Tex. Penal Code § 6.01(2) — 1 case
Richard Paul Smith v. State, 464 S.W.3d 797 (Tex. App. 2015).
— Tex. Penal Code § 6.01(a) — 119 cases
Farmer, Kody William, 411 S.W.3d 901 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). “See Tex. Penal Code § 6.01(a). In relevant part, it states that "a person commits an offense only if he voluntarily engages in conduct, including an act" or "an omission.”
Brown v. State, 89 S.W.3d 630 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002).
Hill v. State, 913 S.W.2d 581 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). “Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 6.01(a). An "act" is defined as "a bodily movement, whether voluntary or involuntary, and includes speech.”
Alford v. State, 866 S.W.2d 619 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993). “TEX.PENAL Code Ann. § 6.01 Practice Commentary (1974); Model Penal Code § 2.”
Hart v. State, 173 S.W.3d 131 (Tex. App. 2005).
— Tex. Penal Code § 6.01(b) — 53 cases
Jones v. State, 338 S.W.3d 725 (Tex. App. 2011).
James v. State, 264 S.W.3d 215 (Tex. App. 2008).
Smith v. State, 56 S.W.3d 739 (Tex. App. 2001).
Bollinger v. State, 224 S.W.3d 768 (Tex. App. 2007). “Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 6.01(a) (Vernon 2003).”
Davis v. State, 93 S.W.3d 664 (Tex. App. 2002).
— Tex. Penal Code § 6.01(c) — 28 cases
Oler v. State, 998 S.W.2d 363 (Tex. App. 1999). “See TEX. PEN.CODE ANN. § 6.01 (Vernon 1994). [1] Appellant argues that because the State did not allege a statutory duty, the indictment is fundamentally defective.”
Hill v. State, 913 S.W.2d 581 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). “Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 6.01(a). An "act" is defined as "a bodily movement, whether voluntary or involuntary, and includes speech.”
Crabtree, Mark Alan, 389 S.W.3d 820 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012).
Ed Rachal Found. v. D'UNGER, 207 S.W.3d 330 (Tex. 2006).
Grothues v. City of Helotes, 928 S.W.2d 725 (Tex. App. 1996).
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