Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the trial of any civil action in the county of Ramsey to which the state or any officer, department or agency thereof is a party may, in the discretion of the court, be removed to any other county in which one of the parties resides on motion made to the court as in civil actions by any of the parties to the action, if the court finds (1) that removal is in the interests of justice, (2) that no party to the action will be prejudiced thereby and (3) that the trial of the action will be expedited thereby. The motion may be submitted on pleadings mailed to the court without the necessity of personal appearance.