H.B. No. 517
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the authority of a property owners' association to
  assess a fine for discolored vegetation or turf during a period of
  residential watering restriction.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 202, Property Code, is amended by adding
  Section 202.008 to read as follows:
         Sec. 202.008.  LIMITATION ON FINES DURING RESIDENTIAL WATER
  RESTRICTION. (a) For the purposes of this section, "residential
  watering restriction" means a temporary restriction of water use to
  irrigate residential vegetation or turf that is mandated by a
  municipality, water utility, or other wholesale or retail water
  supplier as part of a strategy to conserve water during a period of
  drought.
         (b)  A property owners' association may not assess a fine
  against a property owner for a violation of an applicable
  restrictive covenant that requires the owner to plant or install
  grass or turf or maintain green vegetation or turf or prohibits
  discolored or brown vegetation or turf on the property: 
               (1)  during a period when the owner's property is
  subject to a residential watering restriction under which
  discolored or brown vegetation or turf could reasonably result; and
               (2)  before the 60th day after the date a residential
  watering restriction described by Subdivision (1) is lifted.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 517 was passed by the House on April
  24, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 1, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 517 was passed by the Senate on May
  12, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor