Tex. Codes » Labor Code · TITLE 2. PROTECTION OF LABORERS · SUBTITLE A. EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION · CHAPTER 21. EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION
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Tex. Lab. Code § 21.001 (2026)

Purposes

✓ laws through the 89th Legislature (2025)
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Sec. 21.001. PURPOSES. The general purposes of this chapter are to:

(1) provide for the execution of the policies of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its subsequent amendments (42 U.S.C. Section 2000e et seq.);

(2) identify and create an authority that meets the criteria under 42 U.S.C. Section 2000e-5(c) and 29 U.S.C. Section 633;

(3) provide for the execution of the policies embodied in Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and its subsequent amendments (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.);

(4) secure for persons in this state, including persons with disabilities, freedom from discrimination in certain employment transactions, in order to protect their personal dignity;

(5) make available to the state the full productive capacities of persons in this state;

(6) avoid domestic strife and unrest in this state;

(7) preserve the public safety, health, and general welfare; and

(8) promote the interests, rights, and privileges of persons in this state.

Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 269, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 9.01(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 553 cases (126 in the last 5 years), 1995–2026 · leading case: Waffle House, Inc. v. Williams, 313 S.W.3d 796 (Tex. 2010).
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Waffle House, Inc. v. Williams, 313 S.W.3d 796 (Tex. 2010). · cites it 8× “See TEX. LAB.CODE § 21.001. Nor does the statute imply that the TCHRA's administrative review system precludes common law causes of action.”
Quantum Chem. Corp. v. Toennies, 47 S.W.3d 473 (Tex. 2001). · cites it 6× “" TEX. LABOR CODE § 21.001(1). However, because the federal courts are closely divided on the issue, we follow the plain meaning of Texas Labor Code section 21.”
Alamo Heights Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Catherine Clark, 544 S.W.3d 755 (Tex. 2018). · cites it 3× “Tex. Lab. Code §§ 21.001 -.556. 2015 WL 6163252 , at *6-7 (Tex.”
Prairie View A&M Univ. v. Diljit K. Chatha, 381 S.W.3d 500 (Tex. 2012). · cites it 5× “See Tex. Lab.Code § 21.001(1). Chatha contends that, relying on this provision, we have frequently looked to federal law in interpreting the TCHRA, and should do so here as well.”
Mission Consol. Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Garcia, 372 S.W.3d 629 (Tex. 2012). · cites it 3× “Tex. Lab.Code§ 21.001(1). . Quantum Chem.”
Williams v. Vought, 68 S.W.3d 102 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2001). · cites it 6× “Tex. Lab.Code Ann. § 21.001. Thus, in response to the federal statutes, the legislature set up the TCHRA to provide, at a state level, maximum review and relief in cases of unlawful employment practices.”
Texas Parks & Wildlife Dep't v. Dearing, 240 S.W.3d 330 (Tex. App.—Austin 2007). · cites it 4× “" Tex. Lab. Code Ann. § 21.001 (1), (2). These federal provisions — contained within title VII and the ADEA, respectively — require that where a state has its own anti-discrimination laws and fair employment practices agency, the federal EEOC must defer its processing of a…”
Metro. Transit Auth. of Harris Cnty. v. Douglas, 544 S.W.3d 486 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2018). · cites it 3× “(citing Tex. Lab. Code § 21.001 and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.”
El Apple I, Ltd. v. Olivas, 370 S.W.3d 757 (Tex. 2012). · cites it 2× “See Tex. Lab.Code § 21.001; Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc.”
Kimel v. Florida Bd. of Regents, 528 U.S. 62 (2000). · cites it 2× “(1998); Tex. Lab. Code Ann. § 21.001 et seq. (1996 and Supp.”
Donaldson v. Texas Dep't of Aging & Disability Servs., 495 S.W.3d 421 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2016). · cites it 2× “Tex. Lab. Code Ann. §§ 21.001 -.556 (Vernon 2015 & Supp.”
City of Waco v. Lopez, 259 S.W.3d 147 (Tex. 2008). · cites it 2× “The City notes that the Legislature passed the CHRA for the purpose of securing “freedom from discrimination in certain employment transactions,” Tex. Lab.Code § 21.001(4), and created a comprehensive administrative scheme to that end.”
Show all 553 citing cases →
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.001(1): 131 cases
Quantum Chem. Corp. v. Toennies, 47 S.W.3d 473 (Tex. 2001). “" TEX. LABOR CODE § 21.001(1). However, because the federal courts are closely divided on the issue, we follow the plain meaning of Texas Labor Code section 21.”
Prairie View A&M Univ. v. Diljit K. Chatha, 381 S.W.3d 500 (Tex. 2012). “See Tex. Lab.Code § 21.001(1). Chatha contends that, relying on this provision, we have frequently looked to federal law in interpreting the TCHRA, and should do so here as well.”
Waffle House, Inc. v. Williams, 313 S.W.3d 796 (Tex. 2010). “See TEX. LAB.CODE § 21.001. Nor does the statute imply that the TCHRA's administrative review system precludes common law causes of action.”
Mission Consol. Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Garcia, 372 S.W.3d 629 (Tex. 2012). “Tex. Lab.Code§ 21.001(1). . Quantum Chem.”
Alamo Heights Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Catherine Clark, 544 S.W.3d 755 (Tex. 2018). “Tex. Lab. Code §§ 21.001 -.556. 2015 WL 6163252 , at *6-7 (Tex.”
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.001(2): 3 cases
Fred Jackson v. Host Int'l, Inc., 426 F. App'x 215 (5th Cir. 2011).
Texas Tech Univ. Health Sciences Ctr. - El Paso v. Dr. Lindsey Niehay, 671 S.W.3d 929 (Tex. 2023).
Fred Jackson v. Host Int'l, Inc., No. 10-50026 (5th Cir. Feb. 1, 2011).
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.001(3): 31 cases
Texas Parks & Wildlife Dep't v. Dearing, 240 S.W.3d 330 (Tex. App.—Austin 2007). “" Tex. Lab. Code Ann. § 21.001 (1), (2). These federal provisions — contained within title VII and the ADEA, respectively — require that where a state has its own anti-discrimination laws and fair employment practices agency, the federal EEOC must defer its processing of a…”
Jaclyn Jurach v. Saf. Vision, L.L.C., 642 F. App'x 313 (5th Cir. 2016).
Fields v. Teamsters Local Union No. 988, 23 S.W.3d 517 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2000).
Texas Dep't of Crim. Just. v. Bibiana Flores, 555 S.W.3d 656 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2018).
Green v. Dallas Cnty. Schs., 537 S.W.3d 501 (Tex. 2017).
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.001(4): 7 cases
City of Waco v. Lopez, 259 S.W.3d 147 (Tex. 2008). “The City notes that the Legislature passed the CHRA for the purpose of securing “freedom from discrimination in certain employment transactions,” Tex. Lab.Code § 21.001(4), and created a comprehensive administrative scheme to that end.”
Purdin v. Copperas Cove Econ. Dev. Corp., 143 S.W.3d 290 (Tex. App.—Waco 2004).
Baker v. Gregg Cnty., 33 S.W.3d 72 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2000).
Cox v. Waste Mgmt. of Texas, Inc., 300 S.W.3d 424 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2009).
City of Houston v. Shayn A. Proler, 373 S.W.3d 748 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2012).
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.001(5): 1 case
Brown v. Exxon Mobil, 2026 Tex. Bus. 35 (Tex. Bus. Ct. 2026).
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.001(8): 2 cases
Norwood v. Litwin Engineers & Constructors, Inc., 962 S.W.2d 220 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1998).
Blauer v. Dep't of Workforce Servs., 2014 UT App 100, 331 P.3d 1.
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.001(a): 1 case
Bugos v. Ricoh Corp., No. 07-20757, 2008 WL 3876548 (5th Cir. Aug. 21, 2008).
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