Tex. Prop. Code Ann. §§ 301.001–301.171 § 301.068
REFERRAL TO MUNICIPALITY.
Operative Text
Sec. 301.068. REFERRAL TO MUNICIPALITY. The commission may defer proceedings under this chapter and refer a complaint to a municipality that has been certified by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development as a substantially equivalent fair housing agency. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 40, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.
Under Texas Property Code § 301.068, the state commission handling a fair housing complaint has the option to pause its own proceedings and send the complaint to a local municipality instead—but only if that municipality has been certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as a 'substantially equivalent' fair housing agency. This means a single complaint may be handled at the local level rather than the state level, depending on where the property is located. The provision does not require the commission to defer; it grants discretionary authority to do so.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to a fair housing complaint in Texas should be aware that under § 301.068, the state commission may redirect a complaint to a certified local agency rather than handling it directly. Compliant operators generally maintain consistent fair housing practices regardless of which agency—state or municipal—is reviewing a complaint, since the underlying fair housing standards remain the same. Keeping thorough records of all rental transactions and communications is a practice that supports compliance at any level of review.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
If you have filed a fair housing complaint with the Texas commission, § 301.068 means your complaint could be transferred to a local municipality that HUD has certified as a substantially equivalent fair housing agency, rather than remaining with the state commission. This referral does not eliminate your complaint; it changes which agency processes it, and your rights under fair housing law continue to apply. Tenants who want to understand how a potential referral might affect their complaint's timeline or handling can reach out to a local tenant-rights organization or contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development directly.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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