TAA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
the resident is still responsible for any past due rent and other charges owed prior to the termination .
TAA will develop an addendum to comply with this law . This bill applies to leases entered into or renewed after Jan . 1 , 2022 .
Liability for execution of writ of possession HB 900 by Huberty / Springer Clarifies that a landlord is not liable for damages to a tenant related to the execution of a writ of possession by a constable . This bill becomes effective Sept . 1 , 2021 .
Conform Texas Fair Housing Act to federal law HB 1153 by Vo / Birdwell
HB 1153 makes changes regarding the exemption for small rental property owners ( i . e ., the “ Mrs . Murphy exemption ”) to be consistent with longtime federal law .
Parking rigs near apartments HB 3286 by Schofield / Alvarado
Allows an apartment complex in Harris County to request signs prohibiting the parking of a commercial motor vehicle in a public right-of-way adjacent to the complex after 10 p . m . and before 6 a . m .
Criminal trespass SB 237 by Bettencourt / Gervin-Hawkins - Vetoed
This bill allows police to have the option of ticketing a Class B misdemeanor criminal trespassing charge ( as opposed to making an arrest ), which will hopefully make it easier to respond to this kind of offense . The bill was vetoed by Governor Abbott .
Fee in lieu of security deposit SB 1783 by Creighton / C . Turner
Explicitly allows rental property owners to offer renters the option of paying a monthly fee in lieu of a security deposit that may be used to purchase insurance to cover damages or unpaid rent . The bill also sets criteria for such fees as well as the claims process . It applies to property owners who offer this option for leases entered into or renewed after Sept . 1 , 2021 .
TAXES / FEES During the session , TAA monitored more than 150 bills related to taxes and fees . ( A more detailed report on property tax legislation will be posted on the TAA website .)
Property tax appraisal and administration HB 988 by Shine / Hancock
Among its many provisions , this bill requires an appraisal review board ( ARB ) to adopt procedures for hearings and to provide them to the comptroller . Allows an ARB to sit in a single-member panel to conduct a protest , if the property owner so requests , and provides for limited binding arbitration to compel compliance with certain procedural requirements related to protests , in the event that a taxpayer believes that procedures are not being followed .
Debt and truth-in-taxation HB 1869 by Burrows / Bettencourt
Under certain circumstances , restricts the ability of taxing units to use non-voter approved debt to bypass truth-in-taxation limits .
CAD property tax database HB 2723 by Meyer / Bettencourt
Requires a new and easier internet link for taxpayers to be able to find out what their taxing units are considering at Texas . gov / PropertyTaxes .
Appointment of ARB members HB 2941 by Burns / Springer
Requires ARB members in all counties to be appointed by the local administrative district judge , and not by the Central Appraisal District ( CAD ). ( Current law only applies to counties with populations of 120,000 or more .)
Ag exemption rollback and appraisal of certain affordable housing HB 3833 by P . King / Hancock For certain low- and moderate-income housing , this bill requires that the appraisal use the property ’ s projected income and expenses for the first full year of operation and the income method for subsequent years in which occupancy of the property has stabilized .