87R12154 DRS-F
 
  By: Rodriguez H.B. No. 3358
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to prohibited retaliation against residential tenants by
  landlords.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 92.331(b), Property Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  A landlord may not, because [within six months after the
  date] of the tenant's action under Subsection (a), retaliate
  against the tenant by:
               (1)  filing an eviction proceeding, except for the
  grounds stated by Section 92.332;
               (2)  depriving the tenant of the use of the premises,
  except for reasons authorized by law;
               (3)  decreasing services to the tenant;
               (4)  increasing the tenant's rent or terminating the
  tenant's lease; or
               (5)  engaging, in bad faith, in a course of conduct that
  materially interferes with the tenant's rights under the tenant's
  lease.
         SECTION 2.  Section 94.251, Property Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 94.251.  RETALIATION BY LANDLORD. (a) A landlord may
  not retaliate against a tenant by taking an action described by
  Subsection (b) because the tenant:
               (1)  in good faith exercises or attempts to exercise
  against a landlord a right or remedy granted to the tenant by the
  lease agreement, a municipal ordinance, or a federal or state
  statute;
               (2)  gives the landlord a notice to repair or exercise a
  remedy under this chapter; [or]
               (3)  complains to a governmental entity responsible for
  enforcing building or housing codes, a public utility, or a civic or
  nonprofit agency, and the tenant:
                     (A)  claims a building or housing code violation
  or utility problem; and
                     (B)  believes in good faith that the complaint is
  valid and that the violation or problem occurred; or
               (4)  establishes, attempts to establish, or
  participates in a tenant organization.
         (b)  A landlord may not, because [within six months after the
  date] of the tenant's action under Subsection (a), retaliate
  against the tenant by:
               (1)  filing an eviction proceeding, except for the
  grounds stated by Subchapter E;
               (2)  depriving the tenant of the use of the premises,
  except for reasons authorized by law;
               (3)  decreasing services to the tenant;
               (4)  increasing the tenant's rent;
               (5)  terminating the tenant's lease agreement; or
               (6)  engaging, in bad faith, in a course of conduct that
  materially interferes with the tenant's rights under the tenant's
  lease agreement.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.