87R3746 BEE-D
By: Rosenthal H.B. No. 279
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to pet deposits or fees collected by landlords.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 92, Property Code, is
amended by adding Section 92.027 to read as follows:
Sec. 92.027. PET DEPOSITS OR FEES. If a lease allows a
tenant to have a pet on the premises, the landlord may collect from
the tenant a one-time refundable or nonrefundable pet deposit at
the initiation of the lease or a monthly fee for the pet, but not
both.
SECTION 2. Section 92.027, Property Code, as added by this
Act, applies only to a lease entered into or renewed on or after the
effective date of this Act. A lease entered into or renewed before
the effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed
immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.