Bill Text: TX SB340 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to screening by a landlord of applicants for residential tenancies.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-13 - Filed [SB340 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-SB340-Introduced.html
89R4402 SCR-F | ||
By: Eckhardt | S.B. No. 340 |
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relating to screening by a landlord of applicants for residential | ||
tenancies. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 92.3515, Property Code, is amended by | ||
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as | ||
follows: | ||
(a) At the time an applicant is provided with a rental | ||
application and before accepting an application fee, the landlord | ||
shall make available to the applicant printed notice of the | ||
landlord's tenant selection criteria and the grounds for which the | ||
rental application may be denied, including the applicant's: | ||
(1) criminal history; | ||
(2) previous rental history; | ||
(3) current income; | ||
(4) credit history; or | ||
(5) failure to provide accurate or complete | ||
information on the application form. | ||
(a-1) The printed notice must state in writing that the | ||
applicant may provide evidence showing: | ||
(1) the inaccuracies in the applicant's criminal | ||
history; | ||
(2) the applicant's rehabilitation; or | ||
(3) other mitigating factors. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 92.354, Property Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 92.354. LIABILITY OF LANDLORD. (a) A landlord who in | ||
bad faith fails to refund an application fee or deposit in violation | ||
of this subchapter is liable for an amount equal to the sum of $100, | ||
three times the amount wrongfully retained, and the applicant's | ||
reasonable attorney's fees. | ||
(b) A landlord who violates Section 92.3515 is liable for an | ||
amount equal to the sum of $500 and the applicant's reasonable | ||
attorney's fees. | ||
SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to | ||
a rental application submitted on or after the effective date of | ||
this Act. A rental application submitted before the effective date | ||
of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before the | ||
effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in | ||
effect for that purpose. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |