HB 1753

AN ACT relating to a court order for the exclusive occupancy of the primary

House Bill Manuel
Filed

Filed

Bill introduced by legislator

Committee

Hearing

Passed Cmte

Calendar

Passed

Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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Fiscal Note

Not available

What This Bill Does

This Texas bill allows a court to grant exclusive occupancy of the primary residence to a spouse during a divorce proceeding, with mandatory exclusive occupancy if the other spouse has been convicted of certain family violence or criminal offenses within the past three years. The law aims to protect victims by ensuring they can remain in their primary residence during legal proceedings, applying to both pending and future divorce cases starting September 1, 2025. The bill provides safeguards for the victim spouse, who can also file a motion to vacate the exclusive occupancy order at any time during the suit.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to a court order for the exclusive occupancy of the primary
residence or other residential property by a spouse during the
pendency of a suit for dissolution of a marriage.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 6.502, Family Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (d), (e), and (f) to
(a)  While a suit for dissolution of a marriage is pending
and on the motion of a party or on the court's own motion after
notice and hearing, the court may render an appropriate order,
including the granting of a temporary injunction for the
preservation of the property and protection of the parties as
deemed necessary and equitable and including an order directed to
(1)  requiring a sworn inventory and appraisement of
the real and personal property owned or claimed by the parties and
specifying the form, manner, and substance of the inventory and
appraisal and list of debts and liabilities;
(2)  requiring payments to be made for the support of
(3)  requiring the production of books, papers,
documents, and tangible things by a party;
(4)  ordering payment of reasonable attorney's fees and
(5)  appointing a receiver for the preservation and
protection of the property of the parties;
(6)  awarding one spouse exclusive occupancy of the
primary residence or other residential property during the pendency
(7)  prohibiting the parties, or either party, from
spending funds beyond an amount the court determines to be for
reasonable and necessary living expenses;
(8)  awarding one spouse exclusive control of a party's
usual business or occupation; or
(9)  prohibiting an act described by Section 6.501(a).
(d)  While a suit for dissolution of a marriage is pending
and on the motion of a party, the court shall render an appropriate
order awarding the party exclusive occupancy of the primary
residence during the pendency of the suit under Subsection (a)(6)
if the adverse party has, during the pendency of the suit or in the
three-year period preceding the date the suit was filed, been
convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication community
(1)  a felony offense under Title 5, Penal Code, for
which the court has made an affirmative finding that the offense
involved family violence under Article 42.013, Code of Criminal
Procedure, that was committed against the party filing the motion
or a member of that party's family or household; or
(2)  an offense under Section 25.11, Penal Code,
committed against the party filing the motion or a member of that
(e)  A party that has been awarded exclusive occupancy of the
primary residence under Subsection (d) may file a motion to vacate
that order at any time during the pendency of the suit.
(1)  "Family" has the meaning assigned by Section
(2)  "Household" has the meaning assigned by Section
SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies to a
suit for dissolution of a marriage that is pending in a trial court
on the effective date of this Act or that is filed on or after the
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill Sponsors

Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to a court order for the exclusive occupancy of the primary