S.B. No. 630

	AN ACT
	relating to certain obligations of and limitations on residential
	landlords.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 92, Property Code, is
	amended by adding Section 92.024 to read as follows:
	Sec. 92.024.  LANDLORD'S DUTY TO PROVIDE COPY OF LEASE.
	(a)  Not later than the third business day after the date the lease
	is signed by each party to the lease, a landlord shall provide at
	least one complete copy of the lease to at least one tenant who is a
	party to the lease.
	(b)  If more than one tenant is a party to the lease, not
	later than the third business day after the date a landlord receives
	a written request for a copy of a lease from a tenant who has not
	received a copy of the lease under Subsection (a), the landlord
	shall provide one complete copy of the lease to the requesting
	tenant.
	(c)  A landlord's failure to provide a complete copy of the
	lease as described by Subsection (a) or (b) does not invalidate the
	lease or, subject to Subsection (d), prevent the landlord from
	prosecuting or defending a legal action or proceeding to enforce
	the lease.
	(d)  A landlord may not continue to prosecute and a court
	shall abate an action to enforce the lease, other than an action for
	nonpayment of rent, only until the landlord provides to a tenant a
	complete copy of the lease if the tenant submits to the court
	evidence in a plea in abatement or otherwise that the landlord
	failed to comply with Subsection (a) or (b).
	(e)  A landlord may comply with this section by providing to
	a tenant a complete copy of the lease:
	(1)  in a paper format;
	(2)  in an electronic format if requested by the
	tenant; or
	(3)  by e-mail if the parties have communicated by
	e-mail regarding the lease.
	SECTION 2.  Subsection (a), Section 92.331, Property Code,
	is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant by taking
	an action described by Subsection (b) because the tenant:
	(1)  in good faith exercises or attempts to exercise
	against a landlord a right or remedy granted to the tenant by lease,
	municipal ordinance, or federal or state statute;
	(2)  gives a landlord a notice to repair or exercise a
	remedy under this chapter; [or]
	(3)  complains to a governmental entity responsible for
	enforcing building or housing codes, a public utility, or a civic or
	nonprofit agency, and the tenant:
	(A)  claims a building or housing code violation
	or utility problem; and
	(B)  believes in good faith that the complaint is
	valid and that the violation or problem occurred; or
	(4)  establishes, attempts to establish, or
	participates in a tenant organization.
	SECTION 3.  The changes in law made by Section 92.024,
	Property Code, as added by this Act, apply only to a lease the
	effective date of which is on or after the effective date of this
	Act. A lease the effective date of which is before the effective
	date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed immediately
	before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in
	effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2014.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 630 passed the Senate on
	April 8, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 28, Nays 3.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 630 passed the House on
	May 14, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 1, two
	present not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor