Tex. Prop. Code Ann. §§ 301.001–301.171 § 301.085
CONCILIATION.
Operative Text
Sec. 301.085. CONCILIATION. (a) The commission shall, during the period beginning with the filing of a complaint and ending with the filing of a charge or a dismissal by the commission, to the extent feasible, engage in conciliation with respect to the complaint.(b) A conciliation agreement between a respondent and the complainant is subject to commission approval.(c) A conciliation agreement may provide for binding arbitration or another method of dispute resolution. Dispute resolution that results from a conciliation agreement may authorize appropriate relief, including monetary relief.(d) A conciliation agreement is public information unless:(1) the complainant and respondent agree that it is not; and(2) the commission determines that disclosure is not necessary to further the purposes of this chapter.(e) Statements made or actions taken in the conciliation may not be made public or used as evidence in a subsequent proceeding under this chapter without the written consent of the persons concerned.(f) After completion of the commission's investigation, the commission shall make available to the aggrieved person and the respondent, at any time, information derived from the investigation and the final investigative report relating to that investigation. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 40, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.
Section 301.085 of the Texas Property Code establishes a conciliation process that the Texas Commission on Human Rights must pursue after a fair-housing complaint is filed and before any formal charge or dismissal is issued. If the parties reach a conciliation agreement, it must be approved by the commission and can include binding arbitration or other dispute-resolution methods, potentially resulting in monetary or other relief. Statements and actions taken during conciliation are generally kept confidential and cannot be used as evidence in later proceedings unless all involved parties give written consent. Once the investigation is complete, both the complainant and the respondent are entitled to access the investigative findings and final report.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Tex. Prop. Code § 301.085, a property owner or manager named as a respondent in a fair-housing complaint should be aware that the commission is required to attempt conciliation before any formal charge is filed. Operators who engage in good faith during this process may reach a commission-approved agreement that can include monetary relief or alternative dispute resolution. Respondents also have the right to receive the commission's final investigative report once the investigation concludes, which can inform how they participate in the process.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 301.085 gives complainants—including tenants who have filed a fair-housing complaint—the right to participate in a commission-facilitated conciliation process aimed at resolving the dispute before formal charges are filed. Any agreement reached is subject to commission approval and may include monetary relief, giving complainants a potential path to remedy without a full hearing. Once the investigation is complete, a complainant is entitled to review the investigative findings and final report; tenant-rights organizations familiar with the Texas fair-housing process can help individuals understand what these materials mean and what options may be available.
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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