The State Office of Administrative Hearings, also known as SOAH, is an independent agency that manages contested cases and conduct hearings for state agencies. Established in 1991, it is divided into several teams, including natural resources, administrative license revocation and field enforcement, and licensing and enforcement. The State Office of Administrative Hearings administers the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program, which processes mediation and arbitration through trained administrative law judges. The office hears cases for various agencies, such as the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and the Texas Department of Insurance through voluntary interagency contracts. The State Office of Administrative Hearings maintains its headquarters in Austin, Texas.
The Office of Lieutenant Governor is part of executive and legislative branches. The office assumes the powers and duties of the governor when he is absent from the state. It is governed by the state of Texas. The Office of Lieutenant Governor decides various parliamentary questions and makes standing and special committees. In addition, the office appoints committee chairpersons and individual members. It derives other powers and responsibilities from the state statute. The Office of Lieutenant Governor also recommends budget at the beginning of every session. The office makes rules that are adopted by a majority of senators at the beginning of each legislative session.
Texas is the second-largest state in the United States. It covers more than 268,600 square miles. Spain was the first European power to lay claim to Texas and the state also flew the flags of France and Mexico before gaining its independence in 1836. Texas borders Mexico along the Rio Grande and embraces mountain ranges and canyons to the west; lakes, plantations and pine forests to the east; plains to the north; citrus groves, Gulf of Mexico beaches and low-lying alluvial plains to the south; and rolling hill country and clear natural springs at its heart. Its wealth stems from its vast oil reserves. Its largest cities are Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and its capital city, Austin. Texas was annexed to the United States as the 28th state on December 29, 1845.
Established in 1836 by the Republic of Texas Congress, the Texas General Land Office manages more than 20 million acres of state property and works to protect and preserve natural resources. It leases state land for a variety of purposes, including oil and gas production and commercial and sustainable energy development. The office supports the asset management program that helps to promote efficient use of state real property. In addition, the Texas General Land Office administers recycling, adopt-a-beach, coastal, and oil spill prevention and response programs. The office triggers economic development through its natural gas marketing initiatives and loan programs offered to veterans through the Texas Veterans Land Board. It also hosts several important conferences on environmental issues. The Texas General Land Office is located in Austin, Texas.
