TABC Code and Rules
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code is made up of the guiding laws for the alcoholic beverage industry and passed by the Texas State Legislature.
You can view the Code in the first link below by choosing "Alcoholic Beverage Code" in the Select Code dropdown menu. Then you can filter by chapter and section.
You can also view the entire Code text in the linked PDF document below.
TABC Administrative Rules
TABC’s Administrative Rules are created in an open and transparent process. Texas law gives TABC the ability to make the rules necessary to carry out the statutes adopted by lawmakers. Like other state agencies, TABC’s rules then become part of the Texas Administrative Code (Title 16, Part 3).
The Rulemaking Process
- Agency staff drafts a rule.
- Staff usually holds a stakeholder meeting open to the public to gather feedback.
- Commission votes on publishing the proposed rule for comment.
- Proposed rule published in the Texas Register.
- For 30 days after publication, members of the public can file written comments with the agency.
- Staff holds a public hearing and receives oral comments.
- Commission votes on adoption of rule.
- Adopted rule published in Texas Register.
- Rule becomes effective.
This process is also followed for rule amendments and repeals. Throughout the process, staff may revise rules based on public feedback. A rule may repeat a step in certain instances, such as being tabled at a commission meeting to be sent to another stakeholder meeting to incorporate additional feedback.
A calendar of stakeholder meetings, commission meetings and public hearings is maintained on the TABC Agency Meetings and Events page. You can also sign up to receive email notifications by registering for the Industry Notifications email list through the agency's Social Media and Email Signup page.
Updates from Jan. 23 Commission Meeting
At the Jan. 23, 2024, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission meeting, the board voted on the following rules.
Proposed Rules
To give the public an opportunity to provide feedback, a rule proposed by the commission will be published in the Texas Register on the next available publication date (the second Friday after the commission meeting). A 30-day comment period will follow publication.
A public hearing will be held on Feb. 22, 2024, on the rule below. Changes may be made to a proposed rule in response to input received during this time.
Next steps: For a rule to be effective, the board must vote to adopt it at a public meeting. The timing of this action is most often at the next commission meeting.
Adopted Rules
The board adopted amendments to the following rule(s) to be effective on Feb. 12, 2024.
- 16 TAC §§ 33.70-.72, 33.76, 33.77, and 33.81, Events at a Temporary Location
- 16 TAC § 41.25, Providing Samples: Distiller’s and Rectifier’s Permit
- 16 TAC § 45.117, Gifts and Advertising Specialties
- 16 TAC § 50.3, Mandatory Course Curriculum
Next steps: A notice of adoption will be published in the Texas Register on the next available Texas Register publication date (two Fridays after the commission meeting). The notice will include the text of any rule that has substantively changed since the publication of the proposed rule as well as a response to any formal comments received by the agency during the comment period. Unless otherwise noted above, the rule will be effective 20 days after it is submitted to the Texas Register.
The most current version of TABC’s (and other agencies') administrative rules are maintained on the Secretary of State website.
If you have questions about rules or commission action on rules, contact Kelly Johnson, Office of General Counsel, at 512-206-3367 or kelly.johnson@tabc.texas.gov.