BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3879

By: Goldman

Business & Industry

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties believe that certain residential property owners should be able to have a person other than the owner who is not an attorney represent the owner in an appeal of an eviction suit for nonpayment of rent in a county or district court. H.B. 3879 seeks to authorize such representation.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3879 amends the Property Code to authorize an owner of a multifamily residential property to be represented in an appeal of an eviction suit for nonpayment of rent in a county or district court by the owner's authorized agent, who need not be an attorney, or, if the owner is a corporation or other entity, by an employee, owner, officer, or partner of the entity, who need not be an attorney.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.