By: Hancock S.B. No. 1466
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the regulation of residential amenity rentals by a
  political subdivision; authorizing a fee; authorizing a civil
  penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle C, Title 7, Local Government Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 247 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 247.  REGULATION OF RESIDENTIAL AMENITY RENTALS
         Sec.  247.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:
               (1)  "Listing service" means a person who facilitates
  the renting of a residential amenity rental, including by listing
  residential amenity rentals on an Internet website.
               (2)  "Provider" means a person who rents a residential
  amenity rental to another person.
               (3)  "Residential amenity rental" or "rental" means a
  feature or facility:
                     (A)  that is part of a property used or designed to
  be used as the home of a person, family, or household, including a
  single-family dwelling; and
                     (B)  that is rented for a period of less than 15
  hours and not for the purpose of providing sleeping accommodations
  to a tenant.
         Sec.  247.002.  APPLICABILITY.  This chapter applies to a
  political subdivision that has the authority to enact an ordinance,
  order, rule, or other requirement regarding zoning or other land
  use in its jurisdiction.
         Sec.  247.003.  AUTHORIZED LOCAL REGULATIONS.  (a)  A
  political subdivision may require a provider to, before renting a
  residential amenity rental to another person:
               (1)  register the rental as provided by Section
  247.004;
               (2)  designate an emergency contact responsible for
  responding to complaints regarding the rental; and
               (3)  provide proof that written notice was given to
  each owner of property that shares a common boundary with the
  property where the rental is located of the provider's intent to use
  the property as a residential amenity rental.
         (b)  A political subdivision may:
               (1) prohibit a provider from serving food to a tenant of
  a residential amenity rental unless serving food commercially at
  the rental is otherwise authorized by law.
         Sec.  247.004.  RESIDENTIAL AMENITY RENTAL REGISTRATION.  (a)  
  A political subdivision that adopts a registration requirement
  under Section 247.003(a) (1):
               (1)  shall approve a registration application unless
  the provider is in violation of a regulation authorized under
  Section 247.003;
               (2)  may charge a nominal registration fee not to
  exceed the amount sufficient to cover the costs of administering
  the registration requirement; and
               (3)  may maintain an Internet website or telephone
  hotline that enables a member of the public to file a complaint
  regarding a residential amenity rental.
         (b)  A political subdivision shall approve or deny a
  registration application in accordance with Subsection (a)(1) not
  later than the 30th day after the date the political subdivision
  receives the application.  If the political subdivision fails to
  respond in accordance with this subsection, the registration is
  considered approved.
         (c)  If a political subdivision requires a provider to
  register under this chapter, the registration must be valid for at
  least one year.
         (d)  A political subdivision may suspend a registration
  issued under this chapter only in accordance with Section 247.007.
         Sec.  247.005.  PROHIBITED LOCAL REGULATIONS; BURDEN OF
  PROOF. (a) Except as provided by this chapter, a political
  subdivision may not adopt or enforce an ordinance, order, or rule
  that:
               (1)  prohibits or limits the use of a property as a
  residential amenity rental; or
               (2)  applies to residential amenity rental providers,
  residential amenity rental tenants, or other persons associated
  with residential amenity rentals in a manner that is more
  restrictive or otherwise inconsistent with the application of the
  law to other similarly situated persons.
         (b)  In a legal action challenging the adoption or
  enforcement of an ordinance, order, or rule under this chapter, the
  political subdivision has the burden of proving by clear and
  convincing evidence that the ordinance, order, or rule meets the
  requirements of this chapter.
               Sec.  247.006.  CONFLICT OF LAW.  (a)  To the extent of a
  conflict between any regulation adopted under this chapter by a
  county and any regulation adopted under this chapter by a political
  subdivision other than a county, the county regulation controls.
         (b)  To the extent of a conflict between any regulations
  adopted under this chapter by two or more political subdivisions
  other than a county, the less stringent limitation or requirement
  controls.
         Sec.  247.007.  ENFORCEMENT; CIVIL PENALTY.  (a)  A political
  subdivision may assess a civil penalty against a provider for a
  violation of an ordinance, order, or rule adopted by the political
  subdivision that is the direct result of the operation of the
  residential amenity rental.  A civil penalty assessed under this
  section is in addition to any penalty imposed for the violation of
  an ordinance, order, or rule adopted under authority other than
  this chapter.
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), a civil penalty
  issued under this section must be in a reasonable amount, not to
  exceed $200 per violation.
         (c)  For a second violation that is the direct result of the
  operation of the residential amenity rental, a political
  subdivision may assess an increased civil penalty, not to exceed
  $400.
         (d)  For a third violation that is the direct result of the
  operation of the residential amenity rental, a political
  subdivision may:
               (1)  suspend the registration of a provider for a
  period not to exceed one year; or
               (2)  prohibit the continued use of the property as a
  residential amenity rental by the same provider.
         (e)  To assess a civil penalty, suspend a registration, or
  prohibit the continued use of a property as a residential amenity
  rental under this section, the political subdivision has the burden
  of proof of demonstrating that the violation was a direct result of
  the residential amenity rental's operation.
         (f)  A political subdivision may not assess a penalty on a
  provider, suspend a registration, or prohibit the continued use of
  a property as a residential amenity rental under this section until
  the provider has exhausted all appeal rights for the underlying
  violation.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.