Welcome to The State Office of Administrative Hearings

Welcome to The State Office of Administrative Hearings

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SOAH Closed for Independence Day

SOAH will be closed on Monday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day.  The agency will reopen on Tuesday, July 5th at 8am.

SOAH Transition to New Administrative Case Tracking System (ACTS)

June 8, 2022: Due to SOAH’s transition to a new Administrative Case Tracking System May 26 - June 2, the SOAH Chief Clerk’s Office is experiencing a delay in its ability to process the acceptance of some case filings at this time. For more information, click here.

eFile Texas for SOAH Driver’s License Hearings

Please review SOAH’s Interim Operating and Transition Plan for more information.

New Public Case File Search

SOAH is now using re:SearchTX as its online tool for searching general docket case files.

Announcements

Update: SOAH Transition to New Administrative Case Tracking System (ACTS)

June 8, 2022 - Due to SOAH’s transition to a new Administrative Case Tracking System May 26-June 2, the SOAH Chief Clerk’s Office is experiencing a delay in its ability to process the acceptance of some case filings at this time. In accordance with SOAH Rule 155.101(b)(1)(F), any delays in the acceptance of filings will not affect deadlines for parties to general docket cases.

We are also aware that certain ALR Hearing Schedule information published on SOAH’s website may not be updated with the latest information contained in DPS Notices of Hearing. Efforts are continuing to ensure proper integration of DPS hearings data with SOAH systems. Please refer to the actual notice of hearing issued in your case to ensure that you have the latest information.

We appreciate your courtesy and patience as we continue to complete the transition from SOAH’s legacy systems to a more modern cloud-based platform. Please contact the Chief Clerk’s Office at 512.475.4993 if you require immediate assistance regarding scheduling or filings for an emergency hearing during this time.

eFile Texas coming June 1 to SOAH Driver’s License Hearings

eFile Texas - Beginning June 1, 2022, SOAH will require attorneys and the Texas Department of Public Safety to submit ALR case filings and documentary evidence electronically by use of eFile Texas. Mail, email, and fax submissions will be discontinued except for limited use by self-represented / pro se parties.

General Order Relating to Submission of Exhibits

April 20, 2022 -- The Chief Administrative Law Judge has issued a General Order Relating to the Submission of Exhibits that affects all general docket hearings scheduled to occur May 1, 2022 or later. Consistent with SOAH’s Interim Operating and Transition Plan, the order supersedes any prior emergency/COVID-19 related orders requiring the pre-filing of exhibits 10-days prior the scheduled hearing date, and provides new instructions for the electronic submission and filing of exhibits.

Interim Operating and Transition Plan

The Chief Administrative Law Judge has announced a new Interim Operating and Transition Plan effective April 1, 2022, that affects all agency hearings and operations. The purpose of the plan is to establish general operating procedures for the State Office of Administrative Hearings as the agency transitions from emergency operations during the COVID-19 pandemic to hybrid operations, and prepares for the implementation of a new Administrative Case Tracking System (ACTS).

All referring agencies and participants in hearings at SOAH are encouraged to read and familiarize themselves with SOAH’s Interim Operating and Transition Plan, as it includes important information about current operations and upcoming changes to hearings at SOAH.

SOAH Case Records Search

SOAH is now using re:SearchTX as its online tool for searching general docket case files.  re:SearchTX is a web-based platform hosted by the State of Texas that allows registered users access to an online repository of court case information powered by the state’s e-filing database.  Case records for most general docket hearings since March 2020 at SOAH are publicly available at no cost through re:SearchTX.

TCEQ Preliminary Hearings

To promote the fairness and efficiency of certain large public hearings conducted by SOAH on behalf of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, including those that may be conducted remotely by videoconference, SOAH provides an online registration portal through our e-Services page that will allow participants and attendees to register in advance. You can register for a Public Hearing by visiting the Public Hearings Registration section of our website. In addition, SOAH streams some videoconference hearings live on the SOAH YouTube channel.

e-Filing News

eFile Texas launched on March 3, 2020 at the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH). For more information regarding the electronic filing and service of documents at SOAH, please visit the General Hearings Filing Information section of our website.

Popular Forms

General Hearings Forms

See all General Hearings forms >

Driver's License Hearings Forms

See all Driver's License Hearings forms >

About SOAH

Visiting SOAH

Visiting SOAH The State Office of Administrative Hearings is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and has seven staffed field offices located throughout the state. In addition to these locations, the agency holds hearings in remote locations across Texas. Each of the remote hearing locations and each Texas county is geographically assigned to one staffed State Office of Administrative Hearings office location as a primary point of contact.
Information About Our Locations >

Chief Administrative Law Judge

Kristofer Monson has served as Chief Administrative Law Judge for the State Office of Administrative Hearings since April 2019, and has been reappointed by Governor Greg Abbott for a term set to expire on May 15, 2024. Monson is the fifth Chief Administrative Law Judge to serve at State Office of Administrative Hearings.
About Judge Monson >

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to most questions have been generalized for most hearings at the State Office of Administrative Hearings. Information for your specific hearing may vary, depending on the referring agency and type of hearing.

See Our FAQ's >

Our Mission

The State Office of Administrative Hearings, also called SOAH, resolves disputes between Texas agencies, other governmental entities, and private citizens either through an administrative hearing or mediation. The office is separate and independant from the agencies involved in the disputes. The administrative law judges who preside over the disputes are neutral. The specific objectives of the State Office of Administrative Hearings are to:

  • Conduct fair and objective administrative hearings.
  • Provide fair, timely and efficient decisions and proposals for decision.
  • Offer the opportunity for parties to resolve their disputes through mediation (or alternative dispute resolution).
More About Our Mission and Philosophy >