Texas law

Municipal Laws in Texas.

Texas local government operates under the 1876 Constitution and Texas statutes. Texas has 254 counties (the most of any U.S. state). Texas cities operate under home-rule charters (for cities of 5,000+) or general-law framework. Counties operate under a Commissioners Court form. The Texas Public Information Act (Tex. Gov't Code Chapter 552) and Open Meetings Act (Chapter 551) govern transparency. Sovereign immunity is partially waived under the Texas Tort Claims Act (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Chapter 101) with damages caps.

Last verified: 2026-04-17

State law

Key Texas Statutes

Home Rule CitiesTex. Const. art. XI, § 5; Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Chapter 9

Cities with 5,000+ population may adopt home-rule charters with broad municipal authority. General-law cities (under 5,000) operate under statutory framework.

County Government (Commissioners Court)Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Title 4 (Chapters 81-84)

All Texas counties operate under a Commissioners Court form: County Judge (county-wide) plus 4 Commissioners (precinct-based). County Judge presides and has administrative duties.

Texas Public Information ActTex. Gov't Code Chapter 552

Requires disclosure of public information on request. Agency must respond within 10 business days. Attorney General rulings on withholding.

Open Meetings ActTex. Gov't Code Chapter 551

Requires public meetings to be open with advance notice. Executive sessions permitted for specified purposes.

Texas Tort Claims ActTex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Chapter 101

Limited waiver of sovereign immunity for state and local governments. Damages caps: $250K per person, $500K per occurrence (most claims); $100K per person, $300K per occurrence (government units).

State law

Official Sources

Texas Statutes Texas Municipal League

Not Legal Advice

This page summarizes publicly available statutes and rules for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this content. Laws change — always verify with the primary source or consult a licensed attorney in Texas.

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Municipal Laws in Texas.

Key Texas Statutes

Official Sources

Not Legal Advice

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