Tex. Codes » Labor Code · TITLE 2. PROTECTION OF LABORERS · SUBTITLE A. EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION · CHAPTER 21. EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION
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Tex. Lab. Code § 21.051 (2026)

Discrimination By Employer

✓ laws through the 89th Legislature (2025)
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Sec. 21.051. DISCRIMINATION BY EMPLOYER. An employer commits an unlawful employment practice if because of race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, or age the employer:

(1) fails or refuses to hire an individual, discharges an individual, or discriminates in any other manner against an individual in connection with compensation or the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment; or

(2) limits, segregates, or classifies an employee or applicant for employment in a manner that would deprive or tend to deprive an individual of any employment opportunity or adversely affect in any other manner the status of an employee.

Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 269, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 727 cases (198 in the last 5 years), 1994–2026 · 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. LABOR CODE ANN. § 21.051 (Vernon 1996).”
Texas Parks & Wildlife Dep't v. Dearing, 240 S.W.3d 330 (Tex. App.—Austin 2007). · cites it 10× “Eighty-eight of the putative class members have since intervened as plaintiffs. The district court denied a plea to the jurisdiction and summary-judgment motions asserted by the Department and certified the class.”
Mission Consol. Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Garcia, 372 S.W.3d 629 (Tex. 2012). · cites it 4× “Tex. Lab.Code § 21.051. . Quantum Chem. Corp.”
Donaldson v. Texas Dep't of Aging & Disability Servs., 495 S.W.3d 421 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2016). · cites it 5× “Race Discrimination Under the TCHRA, an employer commits an unlawful employment practice if, because of an employee’s race, the employ *433 er “discharges an individual, or discriminates in any other manner against an individual in connection with compensation or the terms,…”
Quantum Chem. Corp. v. Toennies, 47 S.W.3d 473 (Tex. 2001). · cites it 4× “The trial court's jury instruction tracked Texas Labor Code section 21.051: An employer commits an unlawful employment practice if because of race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, or age the employer: (1) fails or refuses to hire an individual, discharges an…”
Alamo Heights Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Catherine Clark, 544 S.W.3d 755 (Tex. 2018). · cites it 2× “TEX. LAB. CODE § 21.051. The Act also prohibits employers from retaliating against a person who complains about such discrimination.”
Bd. of Trs. of Bastrop Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Toungate, 958 S.W.2d 365 (Tex. 1998). · cites it 14× “The Legislature undoubtedly was aware of this precedent when it amended former article 6252-16 and enacted what is now TEX. LAB.CODE § 21.051. If the Legislature had intended "because of sex" to encompass grooming or dress regulations, it would have said so in light of the…”
Texas Dep't of Pub. Saf. v. Alexander, 300 S.W.3d 62 (Tex. App.—Austin 2009). · cites it 6× “011 (West 2008), and claims under the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act (TCHRA), see Tex. Lab.Code Ann. §§ 21.051, 21.055 (West 2006).”
Hamilton v. Dallas Cnty., 79 F.4th 494 (5th Cir. 2023). · cites it 2× “The Texas Employment Discrimination Act uses similar language, stating that an employer commits an unlawful employment practice if it “fails or refuses to hire an individual, discharges an individual, or discriminates in any other manner against an individual in connection with…”
Evans v. City of Houston, 246 F.3d 344 (5th Cir. 2001). · cites it 2× “§ 623 (d) (1999), and employment discrimination and retaliation under the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act (“TCHRA”), Tex. Lab.Code Ann. §§ 21.051 and 21.055 (Vernon 1998).”
Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. v. Zeltwanger, 144 S.W.3d 438 (Tex. 2004). · cites it 2× “("Roche"), for sexual harassment under Texas Labor Code section 21.051, retaliation under Texas Labor Code section 21.”
Twigland Fashions, Ltd. v. Miller, 335 S.W.3d 206 (Tex. App.—Austin 2010). · cites it 6× “OPINION BOB PEMBERTON, Justice. Twigland Fashions, Ltd.”
Show all 727 citing cases →
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.051(1): 114 cases
Waffle House, Inc. v. Williams, 313 S.W.3d 796 (Tex. 2010). “See TEX. LABOR CODE ANN. § 21.051 (Vernon 1996).”
Hamilton v. Dallas Cnty., 79 F.4th 494 (5th Cir. 2023). “The Texas Employment Discrimination Act uses similar language, stating that an employer commits an unlawful employment practice if it “fails or refuses to hire an individual, discharges an individual, or discriminates in any other manner against an individual in connection with…”
Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Gilberto Rincones, 520 S.W.3d 572 (Tex. 2017).
McNeel v. Citation Oil & Gas Corp., 526 S.W.3d 750 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2017).
Stewart v. Sanmina Texas L.P., 156 S.W.3d 198 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2005).
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.051(a): 4 cases
Haggar Apparel Co. v. Leal, 100 S.W.3d 303 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2002).
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Canchola, 64 S.W.3d 524 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2002).
City of Pharr v. Heriberto De Leon, No. 13-23-00033-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Dec. 14, 2023).
Andrew Matej v. Texas Park & Wildlife Dep't, No. 03-23-00420-CV (Tex. App.—Austin Aug. 30, 2024).
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.051(a)(1): 2 cases
Tiner v. Texas Dep't of Transp., 294 S.W.3d 390 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2009).
Andrew Matej v. Texas Park & Wildlife Dep't, No. 03-23-00420-CV (Tex. App.—Austin Aug. 30, 2024).
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