Laws affecting records management aid decision making regarding the control of records activity in state agencies. By being aware of the statutes pertaining to records management in your agency, you help ensure that all records procedures are in compliance with those laws.

This bulletin contains laws and excerpts from laws that agencies encounter most often in the course of managing state records. In addition, most agencies must comply with statutes specific to their mission and authority. Consult your legal department or legal counsel about these laws and how they may affect the management of records within your agency.

Note: For the most current edition of the Texas Public Information Act Handbook, which contains the text of Government Code, Chapter 552, as well as other information on the Public Information Act, contact the Attorney General's Office at 512-936-6736.

Bulletins are compiled by SLRM in a centralized location for ease of reference by our local government and state agency customers. They contain links to the Texas Administrative Code, Texas statutes, a combination of both, or best practice and guidance related to a particular topic or concept.

Bulletin 4 contains the statutory law (Government Code, Chapter 441) governing the preservation and management of state records and other historical resources, including the statutory requirement for all state agencies to establish a records management program. 

Click the links below and be taken directly to the respective laws and rules.

• §441.180. Definitions.
• §441.181. State Archives Program.
• §441.1815. State Archives Strategic Plan.
• §441.182. State Records Management Program.
• §441.1821. Legislative Records Management.
• §441.183. Records Management Programs in State Agencies.
• §441.184. Records Management Officers.
• §441.185. Record Retention Schedules.
• §441.1855. Retention of Contract and Related Documents by State Agencies.
• §441.186. Archival State Records.
• §441.187. Destruction of State Records.
• §441.188. Microfilmed State Records.
• §441.189. Electronic State Records.
• §441.190. Protection, Maintenance, and Storage of State Records.
• §441.191. Alienation of State Records Prohibited.
• §441.192. Right of Recovery.
• §441.193. Custody of State Records and Other Historical Resources of Commission; Public Access.
• §441.1935. Requirements for Requests for Information Held by State Archives Program.
• §441.194. Records of Abolished State Agencies.
• §441.195. Contracting Authority.
• §441.196. Sale of Replicas from State Archives.
• §441.197. Sale of Duplicate or Unneeded Material.
• §441.198. Agreement with Mexico.
• §441.199. Rulemaking Authority.
• §441.200. Audit.
• §441.201. Records of Office of Governor.
• §441.202. Archives of General Land Office.
• §441.203. Records Management Interagency Coordinating Council.
• §441.204. Records of Office of Lieutenant Governor.

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• §325.017. Procedure After Termination.

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• §37.10. Tampering with Governmental Record.

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