88R9945 KBB-D
 
  By: Cole H.B. No. 2592
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a landlord's duty to provide and maintain a functioning
  air conditioning system or unit in an apartment.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 92.006, Property Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:
         (i)  A landlord's duty under Section 92.027 to provide and
  maintain a functioning air conditioning system or unit in an
  apartment unit may not be waived.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 92, Property Code, is
  amended by adding Section 92.027 to read as follows:
         Sec. 92.027.  LANDLORD'S DUTY TO PROVIDE AIR CONDITIONING IN
  APARTMENT UNIT.  A landlord shall provide and maintain in an
  apartment unit an air conditioning system or unit in good operating
  condition that maintains inside the apartment unit a temperature
  equal to the lower of:
               (1)  85 degrees Fahrenheit; or
               (2)  10 degrees Fahrenheit below the recorded
  temperature outside of the apartment unit.
         SECTION 3.  Section 92.052(a), Property Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  A landlord shall make a diligent effort to repair or
  remedy a condition if:
               (1)  the tenant specifies the condition in a notice to
  the person to whom or to the place where rent is normally paid;
               (2)  the tenant is not delinquent in the payment of rent
  at the time notice is given; and
               (3)  the condition:
                     (A)  materially affects the physical health or
  safety of an ordinary tenant; or
                     (B)  arises from the landlord's failure to provide
  and maintain in good operating condition:
                           (i)  a device to supply hot water of a
  minimum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit; or
                           (ii)  an air conditioning system or unit as
  required by Section 92.027.
         SECTION 4.  Section 92.056, Property Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (b) and (d) and adding Subsections (h) and (i)
  to read as follows:
         (b)  A landlord is liable to a tenant as provided by this
  subchapter if:
               (1)  the tenant has given the landlord notice to repair
  or remedy a condition by giving that notice to the person to whom or
  to the place where the tenant's rent is normally paid;
               (2)  the condition:
                     (A)  materially affects the physical health or
  safety of an ordinary tenant; or
                     (B)  arises from the landlord's failure to provide
  and maintain in good operating condition an air conditioning system
  or unit as required by Section 92.027;
               (3)  the tenant has given the landlord a subsequent
  written notice to repair or remedy the condition after a reasonable
  time to repair or remedy the condition following the notice given
  under Subdivision (1) or the tenant has given the notice under
  Subdivision (1) by sending that notice by certified mail, return
  receipt requested, by registered mail, or by another form of mail
  that allows tracking of delivery from the United States Postal
  Service or a private delivery service;
               (4)  the landlord has had a reasonable time to repair or
  remedy the condition after the landlord received the tenant's
  notice under Subdivision (1) and, if applicable, the tenant's
  subsequent notice under Subdivision (3);
               (5)  the landlord has not made a diligent effort to
  repair or remedy the condition after the landlord received the
  tenant's notice under Subdivision (1) and, if applicable, the
  tenant's notice under Subdivision (3); and
               (6)  the tenant was not delinquent in the payment of
  rent at the time any notice required by this subsection was given.
         (d)  For purposes of Subsection (b)(3) or (4), in determining
  whether a period of time is a reasonable time to repair or remedy a
  condition, there is a rebuttable presumption that seven days is a
  reasonable time, except that five days is a reasonable time if the
  condition arises from the landlord's failure to provide and
  maintain in good operating condition an air conditioning system or
  unit as required by Section 92.027. To rebut that presumption, the
  date on which the landlord received the tenant's notice, the
  severity and nature of the condition, and the reasonable
  availability of materials and labor and of utilities from a utility
  company must be considered.
         (h)  If a landlord is liable to a tenant under Subsection
  (b)(2)(B), the landlord shall provide at no cost to the tenant:
               (1)  a portable air conditioning unit that maintains
  the temperature required by Section 92.027; or
               (2)  alternative housing accommodations maintained at
  the temperature required by Section 92.027.
         (i)  For purposes of Subsection (h), a portable air
  conditioning unit may be a portable window or floor unit or an
  evaporative cooler.  The term does not include a portable fan that
  is not designed to lower the temperature of air in an enclosed
  space.
         SECTION 5.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a residential lease or rental agreement entered into or renewed on
  or after the effective date of this Act.  A residential lease or
  rental agreement entered into or renewed before the effective date
  of this Act is governed by the law applicable to the lease or rental
  agreement immediately before that date, and the former law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.