HB 1247
AN ACT relating to the interruption of utility service by a residential
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
Modifies Texas Property Code regulations regarding utility service interruptions by landlords. If a landlord improperly interrupts a tenant's utility service, the tenant can now recover significant financial damages, including their security deposit, one month's rent, and an additional $1,000 penalty. The law prevents landlords from collecting rent or taking other actions against tenants when they have illegally cut off utilities, providing stronger protections for residential renters.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to the interruption of utility service by a residential BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 92.008, Property Code, is amended by amending Subsection (f) and adding Subsection (f-1) to read as (f) If a landlord or a landlord's agent violates this (1) either recover possession of the premises or (2) in addition to other remedies available under law, recover from the landlord an amount equal to the sum of the tenant's actual damages, the tenant's security deposit, one month's rent plus $1,000, reasonable attorney's fees, and court costs[, less any delinquent rents or other sums for which the tenant is liable to the (f-1) A landlord who violates this section may not collect SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to a violation that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act. A violation that occurs before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the violation occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill Sponsors
Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the interruption of utility service by a residential
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