Tex. Government Code § 311.016
"MAY," "SHALL," "MUST," ETC
Texas · Texas Government Code · Status: effective
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- Citation
- Tex. Government Code § 311.016, "MAY," "SHALL," "MUST," ETC, Texas, version 1 as recorded 2026-07-09, yourstate.us, https://yourstate.us/provision/651601
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Full text
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.