|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to the use by a landlord or landlord's manager or agent of |
|
a tenant's name or likeness for a commercial purpose. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 92, Property Code, is |
|
amended by adding Section 92.027 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 92.027. LANDLORD'S USE OF TENANT'S NAME OR LIKENESS. |
|
(a) This section applies to a provision in a lease or other |
|
agreement that purports to authorize the landlord or the landlord's |
|
manager or agent to publish for any commercial purpose the name or |
|
likeness of the tenant or any dependent residing with the tenant. |
|
(b) A provision to which this section applies must provide a |
|
tenant the opportunity to opt out of the authorization. |
|
(c) An authorization granted by a provision to which this |
|
section applies is effective only during the tenant's lease term. |
|
(d) Any provision in a lease or other agreement entered into |
|
in violation of this section or the terms of which violate this |
|
section is void. |
|
(e) If a landlord or landlord's manager or agent obtains a |
|
tenant's agreement to a provision in a lease or other agreement in |
|
violation of this section, or uses a tenant's name or likeness |
|
pursuant to a provision that is void under this section, the tenant |
|
is entitled to recover from or against the landlord or manager or |
|
agent of the landlord: |
|
(1) an amount equal to one month's rent; |
|
(2) injunctive relief; and |
|
(3) reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the tenant |
|
in seeking enforcement of this section. |
|
SECTION 2. Section 92.027, Property Code, as added by this |
|
Act, applies to a lease or other agreement entered into or renewed |
|
on or after the effective date of this Act. |
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |