Telling Somebody At Work
Gov't Code 554.002 — a public employee's good faith report to an appropriate law enforcement authority
The Texas Whistleblower Act protects public employees. A state or local governmental entity may not suspend or terminate, or take other adverse personnel action against, a public employee who in good faith reports a violation of law by the employing entity or another public employee to an appropriate law enforcement authority.
Who counts as the right authority. A report goes to an appropriate law enforcement authority if the authority is part of a state, local or federal governmental entity that the employee in good faith believes is authorized to regulate under or enforce the law alleged to be violated, or to investigate or prosecute a violation of criminal law.
Ninety days. A public employee seeking relief under the chapter sues not later than the 90th day after the date the alleged violation occurred or was discovered by the employee through reasonable diligence, except as another section of the chapter provides.
Private employees in Texas are outside this chapter. Federal statutes protect reports in particular fields, such as workplace safety, securities and federal contracts, with their own agencies and deadlines, and are not on this page. Whether a particular report was protected, and whether what followed was retaliation for it, are questions for a licensed Texas attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- Gov't Code 554.002 — Retaliation prohibited for reporting violation of law
- Gov't Code 554.005 — Limitation period
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Texas attorney.