The Texas Coastal Coordination Council was created in 1991 (Senate Bill 1053, 72nd Texas Legislature, Regular Session), to assume the duties of enforcing the Coastal Coordination Act (Senate Bill 577, 65th Legislature, Regular Session, 1977), previously one of the many duties of the Texas Natural Resources Council. The Coastal Coordination Council is charged with promulgating rules adopting the goals and policies of the Coastal Management Plan, which studies the problems and issues affecting the management of coastal natural resource areas, attempting to slow or stop coastal erosion and protect dunes and wetlands. Coastal natural resource areas are defined as areas along the Gulf of Mexico requiring special management, including coastal public submerged lands; public beaches; washover areas on peninsulas, mainland shorelines, and barrier islands; protected sand dune complexes; and parks, historical areas, wildlife refuges and preserves in the coastal area. The Coastal Coordination Council coordinates the activities of state and federal agencies with coastal jurisdiction. Legislation increased the membership of the Council from seven to eleven in 1995 (House Bill 3226, 74th Legislature, Regular Session), and in 2001 (House Bill 906, 77th Legislature, Regular Session) it was increased to twelve.

Prior to the 1977 passage of the Coastal Coordination Act, the legislature had created the Texas Council on Marine-Related Affairs (House Bill 483, 62nd Legislature, Regular Session, 1971), charged to cooperate and assist in the comprehensive assessment and planning of marine-related affairs. This rather vague goal was broadened somewhat (but still not clearly defined) in 1973, when this council was renamed the Texas Coastal and Marine Council (Senate Bill 327, 63rd Legislature, Regular Session), to cooperate and assist in the comprehensive assessment and planning for coastal resources management and other marine-related affairs. When the Texas Natural Resources Council was created in 1977 (Senate Bill 576, 65th Legislature, Regular Session), a delegate from the Coastal and Marine Council was one of nine nonmember delegates joining the 16 voting members. Thus the Coastal Coordination Council (created in 1991) has more precise direction than the Coastal and Marine Council, but does not have the enormous multiplicity of duties of the Natural Resources Council.

When the Texas Coastal Coordination Council was created in 1991, it was composed of seven members. Five of the members were ex-officio: the commissioner of the Texas General Land Office (who served as chair of the council), the chair of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, the chair of the Texas Water Commission, a member of the Texas Railroad Commission, and the Attorney General. Two of the members were public members, appointed by the Governor for two-year terms: one city or county elected official, and one resident from the coastal area.

In 1995, the membership was increased to eleven. Seven were ex-officio: the commissioner of the Texas General Land Office (who still serves as chair of the council), the chair of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission or a member of the commission selected by the chair, the chair of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (which became the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in 2002) or a member of the commission selected by the chair, a member of the Texas Railroad Commission, a member of the Texas Water Development Board, a member of the Texas Soil and Water Conservation Board, and the chair of the Texas Department of Transportation or a member of the commission selected by the chair. The Attorney General was removed as a member in 1995. Four of the members were public members, appointed by the Governor for two-year terms: one city or county elected official, one resident from the coastal area, one coastal area business owner, and one representative of agriculture. In 2001, the director of the Texas A&M University Sea Grant Program was added to the council as a non-voting member, bringing the number to twelve.

(Sources include: Guide to Texas State Agencies, 9th edition (1996) and 10th edition (1999); the General Land Office agency web site (http://www.glo.state.tx.us/coastal/ccc.html), accessed June 2006; and the enabling legislation, 1971, 1973, 1977, 1991, 1995, and 2001.)