Tex. Codes » Labor Code · TITLE 2. PROTECTION OF LABORERS · SUBTITLE A. EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION · CHAPTER 21. EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION
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Tex. Lab. Code § 21.002 (2026)

Definitions

✓ laws through the 89th Legislature (2025)
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Sec. 21.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Auxiliary aids and services" includes:

(A) qualified interpreters or other effective methods of making aurally delivered materials available to individuals with hearing impairments;

(B) qualified readers, taped texts, or other effective methods of making visually delivered materials available to individuals with visual impairments;

(C) acquisition or modification of equipment or devices; and

(D) services and actions similar to those described by Paragraphs (A)-(C).

(2) "Bona fide occupational qualification" means a qualification:

(A) reasonably related to the satisfactory performance of the duties of a job; and

(B) for which a factual basis exists for the belief that no person of an excluded group would be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the job with safety or efficiency.

(3) Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 302, Sec. 4(2).

(4) "Complainant" means an individual who brings an action or proceeding under this chapter.

(5) "Demonstrates" means meets the burdens of production and persuasion.

(6) "Disability" means, with respect to an individual, a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits at least one major life activity of that individual, a record of such an impairment, or being regarded as having such an impairment. The term does not include:

(A) a current condition of addiction to the use of alcohol, a drug, an illegal substance, or a federally controlled substance; or

(B) a currently communicable disease or infection as defined in Section 81.003, Health and Safety Code, or required to be reported under Section 81.041, Health and Safety Code, that constitutes a direct threat to the health or safety of other persons or that makes the affected person unable to perform the duties of the person's employment.

(7) "Employee" means an individual employed by an employer, including an individual subject to the civil service laws of this state or a political subdivision of this state, except that the term does not include an individual elected to public office in this state or a political subdivision of this state.

(8) "Employer" means:

(A) a person who is engaged in an industry affecting commerce and who has 15 or more employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year;

(B) an agent of a person described by Paragraph (A);

(C) an individual elected to public office in this state or a political subdivision of this state; or

(D) a county, municipality, state agency, or state instrumentality, regardless of the number of individuals employed.

(9) "Employment agency" means a person or an agent of the person who regularly undertakes, with or without compensation, to procure:

(A) employees for an employer; or

(B) the opportunity for employees to work for an employer.

(10) "Labor organization" means a labor organization engaged in an industry affecting commerce. The term includes:

(A) an organization, an agency, or an employee representation committee, group, association, or plan engaged in an industry affecting commerce in which employees participate and that exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours, or other terms or conditions of employment;

(B) a conference, general committee, joint or system board, or joint council that is subordinate to a national or international labor organization; and

(C) an agent of a labor organization.

(11) "Local commission" means a commission on human relations created by one or more political subdivisions.

(11-a) "Major life activity" includes, but is not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working. The term also includes the operation of a major bodily function, including, but not limited to, functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, and digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions.

(12) "Political subdivision" means a county or municipality.

(12-a) "Regarded as having such an impairment" means subjected to an action prohibited under Subchapter B or C because of an actual or perceived physical or mental impairment, other than an impairment that is minor and is expected to last or actually lasts less than six months, regardless of whether the impairment limits or is perceived to limit a major life activity.

(13) "Respondent" means the person charged in a complaint filed under this chapter and may include an employer, employment agency, labor organization, or joint labor-management committee that controls an apprenticeship or other training or retraining program, including an on-the-job training program.

(14) "State agency" means:

(A) a board, commission, committee, council, department, institution, office, or agency in the executive branch of state government having statewide jurisdiction;

(B) the supreme court, the court of criminal appeals, a court of appeals, or the State Bar of Texas or another judicial agency having statewide jurisdiction; or

(C) an institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.

Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 269, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 9.02(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 834, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 872, Sec. 10, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 302, Sec. 4(a).

Amended by:

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 337 (H.B. 978), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 176 cases (56 in the last 5 years), 1995–2026 · leading case: Little v. Texas Dep't of Crim. Just., 148 S.W.3d 374 (Tex. 2004).
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Little v. Texas Dep't of Crim. Just., 148 S.W.3d 374 (Tex. 2004). · cites it 4× “” Tex. Lab. Code § 21.002(6). As framed by Little, “[t]he first issue in this case is whether the prosthesis has restored function so that *381 the impairment is no longer a substantial limitation of the major life activity of walking.”
Entergy Gulf States, Inc. v. Summers, 282 S.W.3d 433 (Tex. 2009). · cites it 2× “"); TEX. LAB.CODE § 21.002(9)(A) ("`Employment Agency' means a person .”
Ancira Enter., Inc. v. Fischer, 178 S.W.3d 82 (Tex. App.—Austin 2005). · cites it 4× “6 See Tex. Lab.Code Ann. § 21.002; see also Walters v.”
Tarrant Cnty. Hosp. Dist. v. Henry, 52 S.W.3d 434 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2001). · cites it 3× “See Tex. Lab. Code Ann. § 21.002 (8)(C) (Vernon Supp.”
Dallas/Fort Worth Int'l Airport Bd. v. Funderburk, 188 S.W.3d 233 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2006). · cites it 6× “Tex. Lab.Code Ann. § 21.002(14). The legislature’s adoption of a broad definition of the term state agency evidences an intent to prohibit discrimination in state government.”
Fields v. Teamsters Local Union No. 988, 23 S.W.3d 517 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2000). · cites it 4× “Because Fields's retaliation cause of action against the Union arose out of an employer/employee relationship, the Union contends Fields must show that the Union meets the definition of an "employer" under the TCHRA.”
Mission Consol. Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Garcia, 253 S.W.3d 653 (Tex. 2008). “The TCHRA defines “employer” to include “a county, municipality, state agency, or state instrumentality,” Tex. Lab. Code § 21.002(8)(D), and prohibits employers from engaging in discriminatory practices, id.”
Texas Parks & Wildlife Dep't v. Dearing, 240 S.W.3d 330 (Tex. App.—Austin 2007). · cites it 2× “1993)); see also Tex. Lab.Code Ann. § 21.002(8)(D) (West 2006).”
Texas Dep't of Crim. Just. v. Bibiana Flores, 555 S.W.3d 656 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2018). · cites it 2× “” TEX.LAB.CODE ANN. § 21.002(6); see also 42 U.”
Crow v. Rockett Special Util. Dist., 17 S.W.3d 320 (Tex. App.—Waco 2000). · cites it 3× “” Tex. Lab.Code Ann. § 21.002(8)(D) (Vernon Supp.”
Pegram v. Honeywell, Inc., 361 F.3d 272 (5th Cir. 2004). “§ 1981 (2003) and the Texas Commission for Human Rights Act (“TCHRA”), TEX. LAB. CODE ANN. § 21.002 et seq. (Vernon 1998).”
Union Carbide Corp. v. Mayfield, 66 S.W.3d 354 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2001). · cites it 4× “See Tex. Lab. Code Ann. § 21.002 (6) (Vernon Supp.”
Show all 176 citing cases →
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.002(12): 2 cases
Sauls v. Montgomery Cnty., 18 S.W.3d 310 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2000).
Sandom Baumgardner v. Brazos River Auth., No. 15-24-00070-CV (Tex. App. Dec. 18, 2024).
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.002(13): 3 cases
Sauls v. Montgomery Cnty., 18 S.W.3d 310 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2000).
Texas Parks & Wildlife Dep't v. Nancy Gallacher, No. 03-14-00079-CV (Tex. App.—Austin Dec. 31, 2014).
Texas Parks & Wildlife Dep't v. Nancy Gallacher, No. 03-14-00079-CV (Tex. App.—Austin Mar. 4, 2015).
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.002(14): 4 cases
Tarrant Cnty. Hosp. Dist. v. Henry, 52 S.W.3d 434 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2001). “See Tex. Lab. Code Ann. § 21.002 (8)(C) (Vernon Supp.”
De Santiago v. West Texas Cmty. Supervision & Corr. Dep't, 203 S.W.3d 387 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2006).
Dallas/Fort Worth Int'l Airport Bd. v. Funderburk, 188 S.W.3d 233 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2006). “Tex. Lab.Code Ann. § 21.002(14). The legislature’s adoption of a broad definition of the term state agency evidences an intent to prohibit discrimination in state government.”
Sandom Baumgardner v. Brazos River Auth., No. 15-24-00070-CV (Tex. App. Dec. 18, 2024).
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.002(14)(A): 1 case
Untitled Texas Attorney Gen. Opinion, No. GA-0611 (Tex. Att'y Gen. July 2, 2008).
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.002(4): 2 cases
Colorado Cnty. v. Marc Staff, 510 S.W.3d 435 (Tex. 2017).
Maria Ruth Limas v. City of Dallas, No. 05-19-01223-CV (Tex. App.—Dallas July 28, 2021).
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.002(5): 1 case
Patton v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 910 F. Supp. 1250 (S.D. Tex. 1995).
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.002(6): 50 cases
Little v. Texas Dep't of Crim. Just., 148 S.W.3d 374 (Tex. 2004). “” Tex. Lab. Code § 21.002(6). As framed by Little, “[t]he first issue in this case is whether the prosthesis has restored function so that *381 the impairment is no longer a substantial limitation of the major life activity of walking.”
El Paso Cnty. v. Mary Lou Vasquez, 508 S.W.3d 626 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2016).
Union Carbide Corp. v. Mayfield, 66 S.W.3d 354 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2001). “See Tex. Lab. Code Ann. § 21.002 (6) (Vernon Supp.”
Davis v. City of Grapevine, 188 S.W.3d 748 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2006).
Morrison v. Pinkerton Inc., 7 S.W.3d 851 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1999).
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.002(6)(A): 4 cases
Miller v. Giglio Distrib. Co., 899 F. Supp. 318 (E.D. Tex. 1995).
Earline Melendez v. Houston Indep. Sch. Dist. & Connie Berger, 418 S.W.3d 701 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2013).
Texas Dep't of Pub. Saf. v. Robert Christopher Callaway, No. 13-23-00166-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Oct. 17, 2024).
Texas Dep't of Pub. Saf. v. Robert Christopher Callaway, No. 24-0966 (Tex. Apr. 10, 2026).
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.002(7): 6 cases
Guerrero v. Refugio Cnty., 946 S.W.2d 558 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1997).
Thompson v. City of Austin, 979 S.W.2d 676 (Tex. App.—Austin 1998).
Lloyd v. Birkman, 127 F. Supp. 3d 725 (W.D. Tex. 2015).
Sauls v. Montgomery Cnty., 18 S.W.3d 310 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2000).
Diana Arriaga v. Cameron Cnty., No. 13-10-00484-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Aug. 29, 2012).
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.002(8): 14 cases
Purdin v. Copperas Cove Econ. Dev. Corp., 143 S.W.3d 290 (Tex. App.—Waco 2004).
Fields v. Teamsters Local Union No. 988, 23 S.W.3d 517 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2000). “Because Fields's retaliation cause of action against the Union arose out of an employer/employee relationship, the Union contends Fields must show that the Union meets the definition of an "employer" under the TCHRA.”
Mission Consol. Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Garcia, 314 S.W.3d 548 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2010).
Sherrylene Garcia v. Shell Oil Co., 355 S.W.3d 768 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2011).
De Santiago v. West Texas Cmty. Supervision & Corr. Dep't, 203 S.W.3d 387 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2006).
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.002(8)(A): 8 cases
Miles v. Lee Anderson Co., 339 S.W.3d 738 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2011).
Fields v. Teamsters Local Union No. 988, 23 S.W.3d 517 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2000). “Because Fields's retaliation cause of action against the Union arose out of an employer/employee relationship, the Union contends Fields must show that the Union meets the definition of an "employer" under the TCHRA.”
Ancira Enter., Inc. v. Fischer, 178 S.W.3d 82 (Tex. App.—Austin 2005). “6 See Tex. Lab.Code Ann. § 21.002; see also Walters v.”
Tommy Gio, Inc. v. Dunlop, 348 S.W.3d 503 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2011).
Harbor Am. Cent., Inc. v. Vielka Armand, 692 S.W.3d 777 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2024).
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.002(8)(C): 3 cases
Nueces Cnty. v. Ferguson, 97 S.W.3d 205 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2003).
Guerrero v. Refugio Cnty., 946 S.W.2d 558 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1997).
Lanier v. Wise Cnty., No. 24-10962 (5th Cir. Aug. 21, 2025).
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.002(8)(C)(D): 1 case
Sauls v. Montgomery Cnty., 18 S.W.3d 310 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2000).
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.002(8)(D): 29 cases
Dallas/Fort Worth Int'l Airport Bd. v. Funderburk, 188 S.W.3d 233 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2006). “Tex. Lab.Code Ann. § 21.002(14). The legislature’s adoption of a broad definition of the term state agency evidences an intent to prohibit discrimination in state government.”
Mission Consol. Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Garcia, 253 S.W.3d 653 (Tex. 2008). “The TCHRA defines “employer” to include “a county, municipality, state agency, or state instrumentality,” Tex. Lab. Code § 21.002(8)(D), and prohibits employers from engaging in discriminatory practices, id.”
Texas Parks & Wildlife Dep't v. Dearing, 240 S.W.3d 330 (Tex. App.—Austin 2007). “1993)); see also Tex. Lab.Code Ann. § 21.002(8)(D) (West 2006).”
Crow v. Rockett Special Util. Dist., 17 S.W.3d 320 (Tex. App.—Waco 2000). “” Tex. Lab.Code Ann. § 21.002(8)(D) (Vernon Supp.”
Texas Dep't of Pub. Saf. v. Alexander, 300 S.W.3d 62 (Tex. App.—Austin 2009).
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.002(8)(d): 3 cases
Metro. Transit Auth. of Harris Cnty. v. Viola M. Douglas, 651 S.W.3d 122 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2021).
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Comm'n v. Earl Pearson, No. 03-25-00902-CV (Mar. 4, 2026).
Muammer David Oksuz v. Harmony Pub. Schs., No. 03-25-00325-CV (Mar. 11, 2026).
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.002(9)(A): 1 case
Entergy Gulf States, Inc. v. Summers, 282 S.W.3d 433 (Tex. 2009). “"); TEX. LAB.CODE § 21.002(9)(A) ("`Employment Agency' means a person .”
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