88R7633 JTZ-D
By: Walle H.B. No. 1841
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to landlord and tenant dispute information reported by
justice courts to the Texas Judicial Council and made accessible to
the public.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 71, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 71.0354 to read as follows:
Sec. 71.0354. LANDLORD AND TENANT DISPUTE INFORMATION:
JUSTICE COURTS. (a) As a component of the official monthly report
submitted under Section 71.035, a justice court shall report by
category each case filed in the court involving a dispute between a
landlord and tenant under Chapter 24, Property Code, or Title 8,
Property Code, including:
(1) eviction suits;
(2) suits involving the disconnection of utilities;
(3) repair and remedy suits;
(4) suits involving security deposits;
(5) suits involving unlawful lockouts;
(6) suits involving the provision of security and
safety devices; and
(7) any other category of suit involving a landlord or
tenant brought under Title 8, Property Code, and designated by the
council.
(b) The council may adopt rules as necessary to implement
this section.
SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 72, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 72.0345 to read as follows:
Sec. 72.0345. LANDLORD AND TENANT DISPUTE INFORMATION. (a)
The office shall publish on the Internet website maintained by the
office information on cases filed in justice courts related to
landlord and tenant disputes. The information must include for
each case:
(1) the justice court in which the case is filed,
including the precinct and county in which the court is located;
(2) whether any legal counsel or agent is representing
the defendant;
(3) whether any legal counsel or agent is representing
the plaintiff; and
(4) the disposition of the case.
(b) The office shall make the information required by
Subsection (a) available on the public information Internet website
in a format that is searchable by date and jurisdiction.
SECTION 3. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective
date of this Act:
(1) the Texas Judicial Council shall prescribe the
categories of landlord and tenant suits a justice court is required
to report under Section 71.0354, Government Code, as added by this
Act, and the procedures for reporting under that section; and
(2) the Office of Court Administration of the Texas
Judicial System shall publish in a searchable format on the public
information Internet website the landlord and tenant dispute
information as required by Section 72.0345, Government Code, as
added by this Act.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 71.0354, Government Code, as
added by this Act, a justice court is not required to report
landlord and tenant dispute information under that section until
after the Texas Judicial Council establishes the categories and
procedures for reporting under that section.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.