1-1     By:  Davis of Dallas (Senate Sponsor - Carona)        H.B. No. 2186
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House May 11, 2001;
 1-3     May 11, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on Business
 1-4     and Commerce; May 11, 2001, reported favorably by the following
 1-5     vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 11, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to charges assessed by a landlord under a commercial
 1-9     lease.
1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11           SECTION 1. Chapter 93, Property Code, is amended by adding
1-12     Section 93.004 to read as follows:
1-13           Sec. 93.004.  ASSESSMENT OF CHARGES. (a)  A landlord may not
1-14     assess a charge, excluding a charge for rent or physical damage to
1-15     the leased premises, to a tenant unless the amount of the charge or
1-16     the method by which the charge is to be computed is stated in the
1-17     lease, an exhibit or attachment that is part of the lease, or an
1-18     amendment to the lease.
1-19           (b)  This section does not affect a landlord's right to
1-20     assess a charge or obtain a remedy allowed under a statute or
1-21     common law.
1-22           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and
1-23     applies only to a commercial lease entered into or renewed or
1-24     extended on or after that date.
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