# Texas

Texas licenses peace officers through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). Since 2023 the TCOLE sunset bill added a confidential licensing database, a national revocation registry, emergency suspension, and sanctions against agencies, and the State has required 16 hours of active-shooter training and added revocation grounds by rule.

Source: https://uscli.org/officer-certification-tracker/texas

## At a glance

- **Certifying body:** [Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE)](https://www.tcole.texas.gov)
- **Statute:** [Occupations Code chapter 1701](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/OC/htm/OC.1701.htm); rules at [37 Texas Administrative Code Part 7, chapters 211 to 229](https://www.tcole.texas.gov/content/commission-rules)
- **Minimum standards:** Age 21 for peace officers, or 18 with an associate degree, 60 college semester hours, or an honorable discharge after 2 years of active service; jailers and telecommunicators may be 18 ([37 TAC 217.1](https://www.tcole.texas.gov/document/adopted-rule-217-1-amended-20260601.pdf)). A high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate; for academy enrollment only, an honorable discharge after 24 months of active duty also qualifies (Occ. Code 1701.255(c)). Occ. Code 1701.2551(a) says the basic peace officer course “may be no less than 720 hours” and must cover the chokehold limit, the duty to intervene, and the duty to render aid.
- **Decertification:** For a violation of chapter 1701, certain reporting duties, or a TCOLE rule, TCOLE must impose a sanction: revocation, suspension, probation, or reprimand; it chooses which (Occ. Code 1701.501(a)). It may revoke the license of an officer elected under the Texas Constitution, such as a sheriff or constable, only on conviction of a felony or of a criminal offense directly involving the officer’s duties (1701.501(d)). Revocation is required for a felony conviction and suspension for felony community supervision (1701.502), and revocation for barratry (1701.503). [Rule 223.19](https://www.tcole.texas.gov/document/adopted-rule-22319-amended.pdf) also requires revocation for family violence offenses, Penal Code chapter 39 abuse-of-office offenses, a third continuing education failure, a dishonorable discharge, and unauthorized possession of a licensing exam; a revocation permanently bars future TCOLE licensing (223.19(k)) unless the facts supporting it are later negated, for example by a reversed conviction or a pardon based on innocence (223.19(l)-(n)). TCOLE may suspend a license for up to 90 days without a hearing when the person is an imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare (1701.5011); Rule 223.20 limits this to cases where the threat is an agency chief administrator or the chief administrator cannot make a fitness-for-duty determination.
- **Public decertification list:** None found. TCOLE’s licensing status database, which includes discipline, is confidential except to hiring agencies and the officer (Occ. Code 1701.168(d)). The public database under 1701.205 covers training and license dates, not discipline, and requires registration.
- **National Decertification Index:** By statute, without naming the Index. TCOLE must submit every revocation to a national revocation registry it designates (Occ. Code 1701.170), and hiring agencies must check national databases TCOLE designates (1701.169). Which registry TCOLE designated could not be checked from official sources on October 19, 2026.
- **Continuing training:** 40 hours every 24 months, up to 16 of them on mandated topics (Occ. Code 1701.351; 37 TAC 218.3). At least 16 hours of active-shooter response training developed by ALERRT at Texas State University, with no waivers or exemptions (1701.3525). Officers who supervise an incident response must take advanced incident response and command training (1701.3526).

## Changes, 2023 to 2026

- Sep 1, 2026 — **Agency standards, reporting, and supervisor training rules for HB 33** — 37 TAC 211.16, 211.29, and 218.3 (amended) · Adopted in the Texas Register August 21, 2026; effective September 1, 2026 — Rule 211.16 requires every agency to have access to a breaching tool and a ballistic shield, clarifies what an agency’s active-shooter policy must contain, and requires certain agencies to have a Public Information Officer, who has one year from assignment to get the certificate. It also sets factors for whether a new or existing agency provides public benefit to the community. Rule 211.29 requires chief administrators to report people who do not meet minimum enrollment or licensing standards, and to report school active-shooter response evaluations. Rule 218.3 requires supervisors to take incident command training each 2-year unit, and reserves and public security officers to complete ALERRT training each 4-year cycle, with ALERRT Level 1 due by August 31, 2029. — **For officers:** Supervisors should log incident command training in each 2-year unit; reserves should plan for ALERRT Level 1 by August 31, 2029. — [Rule 211.16](https://www.tcole.texas.gov/document/adopted-rule-211-16-amended-20260901.pdf)[Rule 211.29](https://www.tcole.texas.gov/document/adopted-rule-211-29-amended-20260901.pdf)[Rule 218.3](https://www.tcole.texas.gov/document/adopted-rule-218-3-amended-20260901.pdf)
- Sep 1, 2026 — **Emergency suspension rule** — 37 TAC 223.20 (new) · Adopted in the Texas Register August 28, 2026; effective September 1, 2026 — Implements Occ. Code 1701.5011, added in 2023: TCOLE may suspend a license for up to 90 days without a hearing if the person is an imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare, but the rule applies only when that person is an agency chief administrator or the chief administrator is unable to make a fitness-for-duty determination (223.20(a)). A hearing at the State Office of Administrative Hearings follows. — **For officers:** An emergency suspension order must be set for hearing within 10 days; be ready to contest it there. — [Rule 223.20](https://www.tcole.texas.gov/document/adopted-rule-223-20-new-20260901.pdf)
- Jun 1, 2026 — **Military provisional license; misdemeanor waivers widened** — 37 TAC 217.1 and 211.30 (amended) · Effective June 1, 2026; an earlier 211.30 amendment took effect August 1, 2025 — Rule 217.1 grants a 180-day provisional license to military members, veterans, and spouses who are licensed in good standing in another state or whose TCOLE license went inactive within the last 5 years, implementing SB 1818 (2025) and Occ. Code 55.004. Rule 211.30 now allows waiver requests for disqualifying Class C misdemeanors; the 2025 amendment required waiver packets to include the personal history statement and background investigation report. — **For officers:** Military applicants licensed in another state can work on a provisional license while the full application is processed. — [Rule 217.1](https://www.tcole.texas.gov/document/adopted-rule-217-1-amended-20260601.pdf)[Rule 211.30 (2026)](https://www.tcole.texas.gov/document/adopted-rule-211-30-amended-20260601.pdf)[Rule 211.30 (2025)](https://www.tcole.texas.gov/document/adopted-rule-21130-amended.pdf)
- Nov 1, 2025 — **New revocation grounds** — 37 TAC 223.19 (amended) · Adopted in the Texas Register October 24, 2025; effective November 1, 2025 — Makes revocation mandatory for any Penal Code chapter 39 abuse-of-office conviction or community supervision. Allows revocation for offenses against vulnerable people (under 18, over 65, disabled, intoxicated, or in custody) and for animal cruelty. — **For officers:** An official oppression or other abuse-of-office conviction, or community supervision for one, now requires revocation of your Texas license. — [Rule 223.19](https://www.tcole.texas.gov/document/adopted-rule-22319-amended.pdf)
- Nov 1, 2025 — **Agencies must investigate misconduct and report to TCOLE** — 37 TAC 211.29 (amended) · Adopted in the Texas Register October 24, 2025; effective November 1, 2025 — Implements the SB 1445 model policies: agencies must investigate misconduct allegations, submit reports to TCOLE, and keep and submit personnel and department files. — **For officers:** A misconduct investigation continues and is reported even if you leave the agency. — [Rule 211.29](https://www.tcole.texas.gov/document/adopted-rule-21129-amended.pdf)
- Sep 1, 2025 — **Uvalde response: incident command training and agency equipment** — HB 33 (89th Leg.), ch. 361 · Signed June 20, 2025; effective September 1, 2025 — New Occ. Code 1701.3526 requires officers who supervise an incident response to take an advanced incident response and command course as part of continuing education. Agency minimum standards in 1701.163 now require access to a breaching tool and a ballistic shield and a detailed school active-shooter policy. — **For officers:** Supervisors must add the incident command course to their continuing education. — [HB 33](https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/HB00033F.htm)
- Sep 1, 2025 — **Certification required for officer polygraph examiners** — SB 2180 (89th Leg.), ch. 327 · Signed May 30, 2025; effective September 1, 2025 — New Occ. Code 1701.318 directs TCOLE to bar officers from giving pre-employment or criminal investigation polygraph exams unless certified through an approved course and a TCOLE exam. The bar takes hold through rules, which TCOLE proposed in October 2026 and had not adopted as of October 19, 2026 (see pending). — **For officers:** Polygraph examiners should plan to get the TCOLE certificate once the rules are adopted. — [SB 2180](https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB2180)[Occ. Code 1701.318](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/OC/htm/OC.1701.htm)
- Aug 1, 2025 — **Fingerprint-based background check for all appointments** — 37 TAC 217.7 (amended) · Adopted in the Texas Register July 25, 2025; effective August 1, 2025 — Requires a fingerprint-based criminal background check for every appointment. This description comes from TCOLE’s adopted-rules table; the adopted rule text is not linked there. — **For officers:** Expect fingerprinting with each new appointment. — [TCOLE commission rules](https://www.tcole.texas.gov/content/commission-rules)
- Jun 20, 2025 — **Statutory justification for less-lethal force** — SB 2570 (89th Leg.), ch. 514 · Signed and effective June 20, 2025 — New Penal Code 9.55: an on-duty peace officer or correctional guard is justified in using a less-lethal weapon, such as projectiles, chemical agents, impact devices, or stun guns, when and to the degree the officer reasonably believes it is necessary to carry out official duties, if the use substantially complies with the officer’s training. It applies to conduct on or after June 20, 2025. — **For officers:** The defense depends on following your training; keep less-lethal training records current. — [SB 2570](https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB02570F.htm)[Penal Code 9.55](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.9.htm)
- Mar 1, 2024 — **Hiring checks, model policies, and separation reports** — SB 1445 (88th Leg.), ch. 1104 · Effective September 1, 2023; hiring changes apply to hires and separation-report changes to separations on or after March 1, 2024 — Before hiring, agencies must check the TCOLE licensing status database, designated national databases, and out-of-state files (Occ. Code 1701.303, 1701.3035, 1701.451(a)). TCOLE must issue model policies on misconduct investigations and hiring, including investigations that continue after an officer separates and a provisional hiring period of at least 45 days (1701.4522), personnel files (1701.4535), and medical and psychological exams (1701.167). The act repealed 1701.452(b) and (c), 1701.4521, and 1701.4525. TCOLE states that the act removed the discharge designations on separation reports and the right to contest a separation report, effective March 1, 2024. — **For officers:** A separation report can no longer be contested through TCOLE, so read it before you leave. — [SB 1445](https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/SB01445F.htm)[TCOLE proposed rules, October 2026](https://www.tcole.texas.gov/document/proposed-rules-217-3-217-8-repealed-20261016.pdf)
- Sep 1, 2023 — **Confidential licensing database and national revocation registry** — SB 1445 (88th Leg.), ch. 1104 · Signed June 18, 2023; effective September 1, 2023 — The TCOLE sunset bill adds a confidential licensing status database holding license status, discipline, and agency personnel files (Occ. Code 1701.168), national databases that hiring agencies must check (1701.169), a duty to submit every revocation to a designated national revocation registry (1701.170), and TCOLE subpoena power (1701.166). — **For officers:** A Texas revocation is reported to a national registry that other states’ hiring agencies can check. — [SB 1445](https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/SB01445F.htm)[Bill history](https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SB1445)
- Sep 1, 2023 — **Out-of-state disqualification, agency sanctions, emergency suspension** — SB 1445 (88th Leg.), ch. 1104 · Signed June 18, 2023; effective September 1, 2023 — A person whose officer license in another state is revoked or suspended, at the time of applying, for grounds that would apply in Texas is disqualified (Occ. Code 1701.3135). TCOLE may sanction agencies, not only licensees (1701.501(a-1)). TCOLE may issue an emergency suspension of up to 90 days without a hearing, with a hearing to follow (1701.5011). Agency minimum standards in 1701.163 are now set by rule. — **For officers:** A current revocation or suspension in another state can block a Texas license. — [SB 1445](https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/SB01445F.htm)
- Sep 1, 2023 — **Public database of officer training records** — SB 1445 (88th Leg.), ch. 1104 · Effective September 1, 2023; database due September 1, 2024 — New Occ. Code 1701.205 requires a public database showing each officer’s basic training date, continuing education compliance, total training hours, and license date. Users must register, and undercover officers can be excluded. It does not show discipline. — **For officers:** Your training compliance is publicly searchable; keep it current. — [SB 1445](https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/SB01445F.htm)
- Sep 1, 2023 — **16 hours of active-shooter training required** — SB 1852 (88th Leg.), ch. 102 · Signed May 19, 2023; effective September 1, 2023 — New Occ. Code 1701.3525 requires every officer, as part of continuing education, to complete at least 16 hours of active-shooter response training developed by the ALERRT Center at Texas State University. The usual continuing education waivers and exemptions in 1701.351(b) to (d) do not apply. — **For officers:** Complete the 16 ALERRT hours; no waiver is available. — [SB 1852](https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/SB01852F.htm)[Occ. Code 1701.3525](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/OC/htm/OC.1701.htm)
- Sep 1, 2023 — **Permanent-resident veterans may be licensed** — SB 252 (88th Leg.), ch. 1049 · Signed June 18, 2023; effective September 1, 2023 — New Occ. Code 1701.3095 requires TCOLE to license an honorably discharged veteran with 2 or more years of service who is a legal permanent resident and has applied for citizenship. Proof of that status and the application can replace proof of citizenship (1701.451(a)(x)). — **For officers:** Permanent-resident veterans who have applied for citizenship can now be hired. — [SB 252](https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/SB00252F.htm)
- Sep 1, 2023 — **Sheriffs must hold a peace officer license** — SB 1124 (88th Leg.), ch. 201 · Signed May 24, 2023; effective September 1, 2023 — A sheriff or candidate for sheriff must hold an active permanent peace officer license, or be eligible for one with qualifying federal investigator or military experience (Local Gov. Code 85.0011). — **For officers:** Keep your license active if you plan to run for sheriff. — [SB 1124](https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/SB01124F.htm)
- Sep 1, 2023 — **Civil service maximum hiring age for police removed** — HB 1661 (88th Leg.), ch. 418 · Signed June 9, 2023; effective September 1, 2023 — Repeals Local Gov. Code 143.023(c), which the act’s caption describes as the maximum age for beginning police positions in civil service cities, and removes police from the related emergency temporary appointment rules. Applicants must still be at least 18 (143.023(a)). — **For officers:** Older career changers can now apply to civil service police departments. — [HB 1661](https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/HB01661F.htm)
- Sep 1, 2023 — **Public Information Act “dead suspect loophole” narrowed** — HB 30 (88th Leg.), ch. 986 · Filed without the Governor’s signature June 18, 2023; effective September 1, 2023 — The exception for records of investigations that did not end in conviction or deferred adjudication (Gov. Code 552.108(a)(2)) no longer applies when a person described in the records, other than a peace officer, is dead or incapacitated, or when everyone described consents. The text is codified as 552.108(c-1). It does not name the parallel exception for internal records in 552.108(b)(2). — **For officers:** Records of an in-custody or police-involved death can be released even without a conviction. — [HB 30](https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/HB00030F.htm)[Gov. Code 552.108](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.552.htm)

## Pending rules

TCOLE published these proposals in the Texas Register on October 16, 2026, for its November 18–19, 2026 meeting. They had not been adopted as of October 19, 2026.

- **Chapter 217 reorganization:** would repeal and replace Rules 217.3, 217.5, and 217.7 and amend 217.1. Rule 217.8, on contesting a separation report, would be repealed without replacement; TCOLE says SB 1445 made it obsolete on March 1, 2024. [Proposed repeals](https://www.tcole.texas.gov/document/proposed-rules-217-3-217-8-repealed-20261016.pdf)
- **Polygraph examiners (SB 2180):** new Rule 221.51 would create a law enforcement polygraph certificate; amended 211.29 would bar agencies from using uncertified examiners for pre-appointment or criminal investigation polygraphs; amended 211.16 would require a polygraph examiner policy. [TCOLE commission rules](https://www.tcole.texas.gov/content/commission-rules)

The Legislature is not in session; the 90th Legislature convenes in January 2027.

## Checked and unchanged

- Occ. Code 1701.351 (40 hours every 24 months), 1701.502 and 1701.503 (felony and barratry revocation), 1701.312 (felony disqualification), 1701.306 (psychological and medical exam), and 1701.2551 (720-hour basic course) show no amendments from 2023 to 2026.
- The duty to intervene and the neck restraint ban were moved to Code of Criminal Procedure articles 2B.0251 and 2B.0252 by HB 4504 (2023), effective January 1, 2025, without change in substance; the duties date from 2021.
- Local Gov. Code 143.089 (civil service personnel files) and Gov. Code 614.021 to 614.023 (complaints against officers) had only conforming changes. HB 1610 (2025) updates a cross-reference in Gov. Code 552.108(h)(2) effective April 1, 2027.
- TCOLE rules adopted from 2023 to mid-2025, including any early SB 1445 rules, could not be checked from official sources on October 19, 2026, because TCOLE’s rules page lists only recent adoptions.
- Not counted as certification changes: SB 435 (2023), on showing victims’ families medical examiner reports and video; HB 3033 (2023), on prompt release of basic arrest information; and SB 1957 (2025), on civilian oversight board member eligibility.