| Old | New | Differences | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 89R3516 CS-F | |
| 2 | 2 | By: Zwiener H.B. No. 1247 | |
| 3 | 3 | ||
| 4 | 4 | ||
| 5 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 6 | ||
| 7 | 7 | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED | |
| 8 | 8 | AN ACT | |
| 9 | 9 | relating to the interruption of utility service by a residential | |
| 10 | 10 | landlord. | |
| 11 | 11 | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | |
| 12 | 12 | SECTION 1. Section 92.008, Property Code, is amended by | |
| 13 | 13 | amending Subsection (f) and adding Subsection (f-1) to read as | |
| 14 | 14 | follows: | |
| 15 | 15 | (f) If a landlord or a landlord's agent violates this | |
| 16 | 16 | section, the tenant may: | |
| 17 | 17 | (1) either recover possession of the premises or | |
| 18 | 18 | terminate the lease; and | |
| 19 | 19 | (2) in addition to other remedies available under law, | |
| 20 | 20 | recover from the landlord an amount equal to the sum of the tenant's | |
| 21 | 21 | actual damages, the tenant's security deposit, one month's rent | |
| 22 | 22 | plus $1,000, reasonable attorney's fees, and court costs[, less any | |
| 23 | 23 | delinquent rents or other sums for which the tenant is liable to the | |
| 24 | 24 | landlord]. | |
| 25 | 25 | (f-1) A landlord who violates this section may not collect | |
| 26 | 26 | delinquent rent from a tenant. | |
| 27 | 27 | SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only | |
| 28 | 28 | to a violation that occurs on or after the effective date of this | |
| 29 | 29 | Act. A violation that occurs before the effective date of this Act | |
| 30 | 30 | is governed by the law in effect on the date the violation occurred, | |
| 31 | 31 | and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. | |
| 32 | 32 | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |