The Texas Administrative Code is a compilation of all rules and regulations promulgated by Texas state agencies, departments, and commissions.
Unlike laws (statutes), which are created by the legislature, rules are created by executive branch agencies, though generally they are created under statutory authority given to them by the legislature.
Regulations created in this way are referred to as “administrative law,” as distinct from statutory law or constitutional law.
The creation of such rules generally follows an established pattern involving pre-publication of a draft of the rule, a period for public comment, and then adoption of the rule at a public meeting.
The Texas Administrative Code was originally created by the Administrative Code Act of 1977. Before that, not all state rules and regulations were published in one place.
The Texas Secretary of State compiles and maintains the Code, and makes it available for free online. However, the Secretary of State does not interpret or enforce the Texas Administrative Code. Generally, that task falls to the agencies that promulgated the rules.
There are 17 titles in the Code:
- Title 1: Administration
- Title 4: Agriculture
- Title 7: Banking and Securities
- Title 10: Community Development
- Title 13: Cultural Resources
- Title 16: Economic Regulation
- Title 19: Education
- Title 22: Examining Boards
- Title 25: Health Services
- Title 26: Health and Human Services
- Title 28: Insurance
- Title 30: Environmental Quality
- Title 31: Natural Resources and Conservation
- Title 34: Public Finance
- Title 37: Public Safety and Corrections
- Title 40: Social Services and Assistance
- Title 43: Transportation
The full Texas Administrative Code is available here. A search function is available here.
