Tex. Nat. Res. Code § 11.084 (2026)
School Land Board Approval Of Patent For Interest In Land Released By State
Sec. 11.084. SCHOOL LAND BOARD APPROVAL OF PATENT FOR INTEREST IN LAND RELEASED BY STATE. (a) The School Land Board may approve a tract of land for patenting to release all or part of the state's interest in land, excluding mineral rights, if the board:
(1) finds that:
(A) the land is surveyed, unsold, permanent school fund land according to the records of the land office;
(B) the land is not patentable under the law in effect before January 1, 2002; and
(C) the person claiming title to the land:
(i) holds the land under color of title;
(ii) holds the land under a chain of title that originated on or before January 1, 1952;
(iii) acquired the land without actual knowledge that title to the land was vested in the State of Texas;
(iv) has a deed to the land recorded in the appropriate county; and
(v) has paid all taxes assessed on the land and any interest and penalties associated with any period of tax delinquency; and
(2) unanimously approves the release of the state's interest.
(b) This section does not apply to:
(1) beach land, submerged or filled land, or islands; or
(2) land that has been determined to be state-owned by judicial decree.
(c) This section may not be used to:
(1) resolve boundary disputes; or
(2) change the mineral reservation in an existing patent.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 310, Sec. 1, eff. Nov. 6, 2001.