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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the interruption of utility service by a residential |
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landlord. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 92.008, Property Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (f) and adding Subsection (f-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(f) If a landlord or a landlord's agent violates this |
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section, the tenant may: |
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(1) either recover possession of the premises or |
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terminate the lease; and |
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(2) in addition to other remedies available under law, |
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recover from the landlord an amount equal to the sum of the tenant's |
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actual damages, the tenant's security deposit, one month's rent |
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plus $1,000, reasonable attorney's fees, and court costs[, less any |
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delinquent rents or other sums for which the tenant is liable to the |
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landlord]. |
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(f-1) A landlord who violates this section may not collect |
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delinquent rent from a tenant. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a violation that occurs on or after the effective date of this |
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Act. A violation that occurs before the effective date of this Act |
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is governed by the law in effect on the date the violation occurred, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |