88R18843 JTZ-D
By: Walle, Garcia H.B. No. 1841
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to landlord and tenant dispute information reported by
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:
COURTS. (a) As a component of the official monthly report
submitted under Section 71.035, a court with original or appellate
jurisdiction over landlord and tenant disputes shall report by
category each case filed in the court 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 publicly accessible Internet
website the office maintains information on landlord and tenant
dispute cases filed in courts in this state. The information must
include for each case:
(1) the court in which the case is filed, including the
precinct and county where 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 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 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
publicly accessible Internet website the office maintains 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 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.