Texas racial profiling report deadline

The deadline: March 1

Each law enforcement agency must submit its report “not later than March 1 of each year,” covering “the incident-based data compiled during the previous calendar year” (Texas Code of Criminal Procedure art. 2B.0055(b)).

TCOLE opens reporting on January 1. For example, its page for the 2025 report said: “Reporting for the 2025 racial profiling report will open on January 1, 2026, and will be available until March 1, 2026, for motor vehicle stops conducted in 2025.” On the same pattern, stops made in 2026 are reported between January 1 and March 1, 2027. Check TCOLE’s page for the current year’s notice.

Who files, and who receives it

The report is submitted by the agency’s chief administrator, “regardless of whether the administrator is elected, employed, or appointed” (art. 2B.0055(c)).
It goes to TCOLE and, for a local agency, to the governing body of each county or municipality the agency serves (art. 2B.0055(b)).
Reports are filed online in TCOLE’s system, TCLEDDS.

Exempt or full

TCOLE offers two options. Agencies that don’t make motor vehicle stops in the routine performance of their duties file a one-page exempt status report, and “a comparative analysis is not required if reporting EXEMPT.” Agencies that make stops file the full report: the online form with their numbers, plus a separate PDF comparative analysis.

Penalties in the statute

TCOLE “shall begin disciplinary procedures against the chief administrator of a law enforcement agency if the commission finds that the chief administrator intentionally failed to submit a report” (art. 2B.0055(f)).
If the chief administrator of a local agency intentionally fails to submit the data, “the agency is liable to the state for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $5,000 for each violation” (art. 2B.0058(a)).
TCOLE’s page also warns of license action against the chief administrator and civil or administrative penalties against the agency, citing Occupations Code § 1701.501(a)(2) and 37 Texas Administrative Code § 223.2.

Planning backwards from March 1

Agencies typically need time to pull the year’s numbers from their records system after December 31, check that the totals agree, prepare the comparative analysis, have the chief administrator review and sign it, and present it to the governing body. TCOLE’s quick guide notes that the online form times out after 60 minutes, so it recommends having the numbers documented before you start.

Sources

StopDataReport is a statistical tool. It is not legal advice and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). Your agency is responsible for the accuracy of its data and for its report.