By Solomons                                      H.B. No. 342

      75R2509 CAS-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the contents of a written lease agreement between a

 1-3     landlord and tenant of residential rental property.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 92, Property Code, is

 1-6     amended by adding Section 92.012 to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 92.012.  STATEMENT OF LEASE NEGOTIABILITY.  (a)  Each

 1-8     written lease must contain a statement substantially similar to the

 1-9     following:

1-10     THE TERMS OF THIS LEASE MAY BE SUBJECT TO NEGOTIATION TO MEET THE

1-11     TENANT'S PARTICULAR NEEDS.  IF YOU ARE ADVISED BY ANY PERSON,

1-12     INCLUDING THE LEASING AGENT, MANAGER, OR LANDLORD, THAT THIS LEASE

1-13     IS NOT NEGOTIABLE, CONSULT YOUR ATTORNEY BEFORE SIGNING THE LEASE.

1-14           (b)  The statement must be printed in each lease directly

1-15     above the line on which the tenant is to enter the tenant's

1-16     signature agreeing to the lease.

1-17           SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-18           (b)  Section 92.012, Property Code, as added by this Act,

1-19     applies only to a written lease agreement between a landlord and

1-20     tenant of residential rental property entered into on or after the

1-21     effective date of this Act.

1-22           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-23     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-24     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-1     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-2     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.