Mission and Philosophy
The State Office of Administrative Hearings, also called SOAH, is an independent and neutral agency for hearing and mediating administrative disputes and appeals in Texas. While judicial in form, SOAH operates in the executive branch of state government, overseeing thousands of disputes between Texas agencies, private citizens, and other governmental entities. SOAH employs more than 50 Administrative Law Judges, referred to as ALJs or judges, across eight offices statewide who conduct contested case hearings for more than 50 referring agencies. Approximately 28,000 contested case hearings are conducted by ALJs at SOAH each year, with each case resolving legal disputes over administrative actions taken by the state or other governmental bodies.
SOAH was created 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).
ALJs at SOAH are unbiased and separate from the state agencies and entities involved in legal disputes. They conduct fair and impartial hearings, consider evidence and testimony presented by parties, and then issue independent legal decisions that include findings of fact and conclusions of law. Although some SOAH decisions are final, the ALJ’s proposal for decision is generally subject to final adoption by the referring state agency.
Cases referred to SOAH range in complexity from routine driver’s license suspensions to child support enforcement, to specialized tax and education hearings, to all forms of occupational and professional licensing. ALJs at SOAH issue some of the state’s most important decisions on water rights, environmental permits, and utility rates. Most cases are resolved by a single ALJ within 180 days or less, while some larger complex cases require a panel of judges and can last a year or more depending on the nature and course of the litigation.
Agency Mission Statement
The State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) serves as an independent and neutral forum for the fair and lawful adjudication of contested cases on behalf of the State of Texas, ensuring due process by providing timely, efficient, and impartial decisions in formal administrative hearings and alternative dispute resolution proceedings in accordance with Chapter 2003 of the Texas Government Code.
Agency Philosophy
Why Not Better?
SOAH is focused on continuously optimizing the services provided to the public while fully implementing the Legislature’s intent as set out in statute. In reassessing SOAH operations to accommodate new technology and constantly changing legal landscapes, we look at each step of the process to see what could be improved – from how cases are assigned to how documents are formatted. And every step of the way, we at SOAH like to ask “Why Not Better?”