Tex. Gov't Code § 311.016 · Subchapter B. CONSTRUCTION OF WORDS AND PHRASES
"MAY," "SHALL," "MUST," ETC.
Text — Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
The following constructions apply unless the context in which the word or phrase appears necessarily requires a different construction or unless a different construction is expressly provided by statute:
(1) "May" creates discretionary authority or grants permission or a power.
(2) "Shall" imposes a duty.
(3) "Must" creates or recognizes a condition precedent.
(4) "Is entitled to" creates or recognizes a right.
(5) "May not" imposes a prohibition and is synonymous with "shall not."
(6) "Is not entitled to" negates a right.
(7) "Is not required to" negates a duty or condition precedent.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 220, Sec. 1, eff. May 23, 1997.
Source of truth
- Edition
- Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
- Official file
- https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.311.htm
- Text hash
- sha256 40e3dbf1ec0550409f54d4706085f10b1e5fc52e5327fc0f966072b0c560c8a8
- Composed by
- compose_tx.py 2026-10-05: the Legislative Council's chapter files read in document order; verify_tx.py's independent reading (lxml DOM walk) agrees character for character
Procedural information only. Not legal advice and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Confirm the current text with the official publisher before relying on it.