Texas Break Laws (2026)
Last updated: 2026-10-07 · Checked against the statute text and state agency guidance · No break law
| Adult meal break | Not required |
|---|---|
| Adult rest break | Not required (short breaks you give must be paid) |
| Minors | No separate rule — adult rules (if any) apply |
| Lactation | Public employers only |
| Enforcing agency | Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), Labor Law Department |
Heads up: Some guides say Texas requires a 30-minute break for minors after 5 hours; the Texas Workforce Commission says Texas law requires no breaks, and no statute provides one.
Texas break scheduler
Pick a state and enter the shift. You'll get every break the law requires, the latest time each can start, a suggested schedule, and — if you enter the breaks actually taken — a compliance check with California premium pay.
Texas · Adult (18+) · 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
On site 10 h · hours worked 10 h
No meal or rest break is required by Texas law for this shift.
Federal law still applies: breaks of about 5–20 minutes you choose to give must be paid, and an unpaid meal must be a real duty-free break (ordinarily 30+ minutes).
Scheduling aid, not legal advice. Industry wage orders, union contracts and employer-specific exemptions can change the rules — see the Texas break law page for citations.
Texas meal break law
No state meal-period requirement. Texas Workforce Commission (Texas Guidebook for Employers): with only one exception (federal lactation breaks), 'neither the FLSA nor Texas law requires employers to give breaks during the workday,' but if breaks are given, federal rules apply.
Source: official guidance
Texas rest break law
No state rest-break requirement for adult private-sector employees. Federal rule: short breaks (about 5-20 minutes), if given, must be paid (29 CFR 785.18).
Breaks for minors in Texas
No minor-specific meal or rest break rule found; TWC's employer guidebook says Texas law requires no breaks (its only noted exception is federal lactation breaks), and Texas is not in the DOL minors' meal footnote. (Some private guides claim a 30-minute break after 5 hours for minors; no Texas statute supporting that was found.)
Lactation breaks in Texas
PUBLIC EMPLOYERS ONLY. Texas Government Code ch. 619 requires public employers to adopt a written policy supporting expression of breast milk, make reasonable accommodations, allow a reasonable amount of break time, and provide a private place (not a multiple-user bathroom) to express milk, with no time limit; retaliation/discrimination prohibited. Private employers: no state requirement; federal PUMP Act applies. Texas also has a voluntary 'Mother-Friendly Worksite' designation (Health & Safety Code ch. 165).
Pay: Not specified (public employers); none for private employers.
Federal floor (PUMP Act): reasonable break time and a private space that isn't a bathroom for one year after birth, for nearly all employees; unpaid unless the employee isn't fully relieved of duty. Employers with fewer than 50 employees may be exempt only if compliance would cause undue hardship.
Frequently asked questions
Are breaks required by law in Texas?
No meal or rest break law for private employers (adults or minors). Federal law requires no breaks, but short breaks that are given must be paid and unpaid meal periods must be duty-free.
How many breaks do you get for an 8-hour shift in Texas?
None for adults — Texas has no general meal or rest break law. Under federal law, any short break you give (5–20 minutes) must be paid.
Do minors get breaks in Texas?
No minor-specific meal or rest break rule found; TWC's employer guidebook says Texas law requires no breaks (its only noted exception is federal lactation breaks), and Texas is not in the DOL minors' meal footnote. (Some private guides claim a 30-minute break after 5 hours for minors; no Texas statute supporting that was found.)
Are lactation breaks required in Texas?
PUBLIC EMPLOYERS ONLY. Texas Government Code ch. 619 requires public employers to adopt a written policy supporting expression of breast milk, make reasonable accommodations, allow a reasonable amount of break time, and provide a private place (not a multiple-user bathroom) to express milk, with no time limit; retaliation/discrimination prohibited. Private employers: no state requirement; federal PUMP Act applies. Texas also has a voluntary 'Mother-Friendly Worksite' designation (Health & Safety Code ch. 165). The federal PUMP Act also applies: reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space for one year after birth.
Official Texas sources
Figures checked against these sources on 2026-10-07Compare
Also “No break law”: Arizona, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Wyoming
Related Resources on This Site
Helpful guides
General information, not legal advice. Industry rules, union contracts and agency exemptions can change these requirements. Confirm with Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), Labor Law Department.