Tex. R. Evid. 701

Opinion Testimony by Lay Witnesses

sha256 cdc172f552d4943503540863ee552a06… · retrieved 7/15/2026, 8:29:37 PM · Supreme Court of Texas official rules PDF — txcourts.gov, verbatim · verified 8/5/2026 by TXEV-1 July reconcile (artifact-proven, dual-sourced)

Rule 701. Opinion Testimony by Lay Witnesses
If a witness is not testifying as an expert, testimony in the form of an opinion is limited to one that
is:
(a) rationally based on the witness’s perception; and
(b) helpful to clearly understanding the witness’s testimony or to determining a fact in issue.
Notes and Comments
Comment to 2015 Restyling: All references to an “inference” have been deleted because this
makes the Rule flow better and easier to read, and because any “inference” is covered by the
broader term “opinion.” Courts have not made substantive decisions on the basis of any distinction
between an opinion and an inference. No change in current practice is intended.
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