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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to prohibiting a prospective residential landlord from |
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increasing the amount of rent during the rental application |
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process. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 92, Property Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 92.027 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 92.027. PROSPECTIVE LANDLORD PROHIBITED FROM |
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INCREASING RENT AMOUNT DURING APPLICATION PROCESS. (a) In this |
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section, "applicant," "landlord," and "rental application" have |
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the meanings assigned by Section 92.351. |
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(b) This section applies only to a rental application |
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provided by a landlord to an applicant that: |
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(1) provides that the applicant will be considered to |
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lease a specific rental unit; and |
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(2) states the monthly rent amount at which the |
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specified rental unit will be offered to an approved applicant. |
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(c) A landlord who approves a rental application to which |
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this section applies must provide to the applicant a written lease |
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agreement for the rental unit referenced in the application at the |
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monthly rent amount stated in the application. |
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(d) A landlord who violates this section is liable to the |
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applicant for an amount equal to the sum of $100, three times the |
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amount of any application fee or deposit, and the applicant's |
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reasonable attorney's fees. |
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SECTION 2. Section 92.027, Property Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies only to a rental application provided to an applicant |
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on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |