H.B. No. 3879
AN ACT
relating to nonlawyer representation in an appeal of an eviction
suit.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 24.011, Property Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 24.011. NONLAWYER REPRESENTATION. (a) In eviction
suits in justice court for nonpayment of rent or holding over beyond
a rental term, the parties may represent themselves or be
represented by their authorized agents, who need not be attorneys.
In any eviction suit in justice court, an authorized agent
requesting or obtaining a default judgment need not be an attorney.
(b) In an appeal of an eviction suit for nonpayment of rent
in a county or district court, an owner of a multifamily residential
property may be represented by the owner's authorized agent, who
need not be an attorney, or, if the owner is a corporation or other
entity, by an employee, owner, officer, or partner of the entity,
who need not be an attorney.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an appeal taken on or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3879 was passed by the House on May 4,
2017, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to
H.B. No. 3879 on May 25, 2017, and requested the appointment of a
conference committee to consider the differences between the two
houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report
on H.B. No. 3879 on May 28, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 144,
Nays 0, 4 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3879 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 23, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays
1; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference
committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and
that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.
3879 on May 28, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 2.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor