Welcome to The State Office of Administrative Hearings | State Office of Administrative Hearings

New Public Case File Search

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

eFileTX

As of March 3, 2020, SOAH is using eFile Texas for the electronic filing and service of documents in general docket cases.

Announcements

Electronic Filing for IDEA Cases at SOAH

Beginning September 1, 2021, parties to proceedings under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) at SOAH will be required to file and serve documents using eFileTexas, or another electronic filing service provider approved by the Office of Court Administration, in accordance with SOAH’s Rules of Procedure.

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.

Statement Regarding Hearings During the COVID-19 Pandemic

SOAH is committed to maintaining both public health and Texans' right to fair and open administrative proceedings as Texas reopens follow the initial response to the COVID 19 pandemic.

Under my current emergency order, SOAH hearings will continue to be scheduled as remote proceedings to the extent possible, except as required by statute. Remote proceedings can be held either by conference call or videoconference. SOAH may recommence the scheduling of a limited number of live hearings subject to certain additional requirements as outlined in the emergency order.

SOAH has created a COVID-19 Information Page breaking out information on hearings and cases during this transitional time.

Notice of Adopted Rule Amendments

Effective November 29, 2020, SOAH adopted amendments to its Rules of Procedure for General Hearings. You can review the text of the rule adoption on the Texas Secretary of State website. To view SOAH’s Rules of Procedure in Chapter 155 as amended, please visit the Texas Administrative Code website.

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 has added a new online registration portal to 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 the large public 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

Motion for Continuance

Motion to Compel

Subpoena

Motion to Appear by Phone or Video

Notice of Appeal by Property Owner

Driver's License Hearings Forms

Motion for Continuance

Motion to Set Aside Default

Driver's License Subpoena

ALJ-Issued Subpoena Request

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, 2022. 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 >