Note The library cannot tell you what the law means for your situation.
Upon request by certain officials, the Texas attorney general issues written interpretations of state law. These interpretations are known as attorney general or AG opinions.
While considered persuasive, they are not binding. Interpretation of state law is left to the courts.
Opinions do not address factual matters nor do they create or amend existing laws. Opinions can later be overruled, modified, affirmed, and withdrawn.
Opinions from 1939 to current day are online.
Prior to 1939, the publication of opinions was not systematic or comprehensive. See the Pre-1939 AG Opinions box to learn more.
The attorney general previously issued “letter opinions.” While they carry the same force and effect as a formal opinion, letter opinions concerned non-controversial issues, issues that affected a particular group, or issues local in nature.
As of January 4th, 1999, letter opinions are no longer issued. Archived letter opinions are online.
Prior to 1939, the publication of Texas Attorney General opinions was not systematic or comprehensive. These early opinions were not numbered sequentially like they are today.
The opinions listed below are extracted from biennial reports published by the attorney general. You'll find the opinions themselves and any indexes from the report that may help you locate a particular opinion.
| Years | Attorney General | Indexes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1891 – 1892 | Charles A. Culberson | Opinions | — |
| 1893 – 1894 | Charles A. Culberson | Opinions | — |
| 1895 – 1896 | M. M. Crane | Opinions | Index |
| 1897 – 1898 | M. M. Crane | Opinions | Index |
| 1899 – 1900 | T. S. Smith | Opinions | Index |
| 1906 – 1908 | R. V. Davidson | Opinions | Index to Opinions |
| 1908 – 1910 | Jewel P. Lightfoot | Opinions | Index to Opinions |
| 1912 – 1914 | B. F. Looney | Opinions | Index |
| 1914 – 1916 | B. F. Looney | Opinions | General Index |
| 1916 – 1918 | B. F. Looney | Opinions | General Index, Index to Names |
| 1918 – 1920 | C. M. Cureton | Opinions | General Index, Index to Names |
| 1920 – 1922 | W. A. Keeling | Opinions | General Index, Index to Names |
| 1922 – 1924 | W. A. Keeling | Opinions | General Subject Index, Index to Names |
| 1924 – 1926 | Dan Moody | Opinions | General Subject Index, Index to Names |
| 1926 – 1928 | Claude Pollard | Opinions | Index to Names, Index to Opinions |
| 1928 – 1930 | Robert Lee Bobbitt | Opinions | Index to Names, Index to Opinions |
| 1930 – 1932 | James V. Allred | Opinions | Index to Names, Index to Opinions |
| 1932 – 1934 | James V. Allred | Opinions | Index to Names, Index to Opinions |
| 1934 – 1936 | William McCraw | Opinions | Index to Names, Index to Opinions |
| 1936 – 1938 | William McCraw | Opinions | Index to Names, Index to Opinions |
Note: The 1901 – 1902, 1903 – 1904, and 1904 – 1906 biennial reports do not contain any opinions, so they are not included here. Our library does not have access to a report for 1910 – 1912.
The Public Information Act allows governmental bodies to request a decision from the attorney general regarding whether requested information may be withheld under one of the exceptions permitted by law. Open records decisions are online.
The attorney general also issues informal open records letter rulings. Letter rulings are limited to the particular information at issue in each particular request and limited to the facts presented.
Unless explicitly stated otherwise, letter rulings are not to be cited as precedent. Open records letter rulings are online.
Note The library cannot tell you what the law means for your situation.