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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to prohibiting tenant lockouts for failure to pay rent. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 92.0081(b), Property Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) A landlord may not intentionally prevent a tenant from |
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entering the leased premises except by judicial process unless the |
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exclusion results from: |
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(1) bona fide repairs, construction, or an emergency; |
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or |
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(2) removing the contents of premises abandoned by a |
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tenant[; or
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[(3) changing the door locks of a tenant who is
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delinquent in paying at least part of the rent]. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 92.0081(c), (d), (e), (f), (g), and |
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(i), Property Code, are repealed. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |