Law & License

    SOAH (State Office of Administrative Hearings)

    The independent Texas body whose administrative law judges hear contested TREC cases and issue a proposal for decision.

    The State Office of Administrative Hearings is an independent Texas agency whose administrative law judges hold formal hearings when a license holder disputes the facts in a TREC enforcement case. The judge weighs the evidence and issues a proposal for decision.

    TREC then considers the proposal for decision and issues the final order. TREC does not conduct the fact-finding hearing itself when the facts are contested; that hearing is held at SOAH.

    On the exam

    Contested TREC cases go to a SOAH administrative law judge, who issues a proposal for decision. TREC issues the final order.

    Exam trap

    When the facts are disputed, the hearing is at SOAH, not at a TREC meeting. TREC decides after the judge's proposal for decision.

    Tested in

    Standards of Conduct (8% of the exam)

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    This definition is Texas real estate exam-prep education, not legal, tax, or professional advice. Verify current rules against the official source before relying on them for a real transaction. Back to the full glossary.