state office of Administrative hearings

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.