To promote the fairness and efficiency of administrative hearings with a large number of public attendees, SOAH offers live video streaming on YouTube for select proceedings. Please note that not all SOAH hearings are live streamed, and public access to broadcasts may be limited at times. 

A SOAH hearing is a legal proceeding before one or more Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) and governed by SOAH’s Rules of Procedure. The hearing has many of the same formalities as a district court in the State of Texas regarding procedure and the introduction of evidence and testimony. Although hearings are generally accessible to the public, they are not a forum that allows the opportunity for public participation and comment; only the parties to the case and invited witnesses are allowed to participate. The presiding judge also has the discretion to regulate public attendance, media coverage, livestreaming, and the use of recording devices, in accordance with SOAH rules. Additionally, some hearings or portions thereof may be closed to the public to protect the confidentiality of the proceedings in accordance with applicable law.

Observers who want to attend a public hearing should review the Administrative Law Judge’s Orders in SOAH’s Public Case File Search or contact the SOAH Chief Clerk's Office for more information.

More information about SOAH hearings can be found under Representing Yourself and in SOAH’s Frequently Asked Questions.