HB1247 - Relating to the interruption of utility service by a residential landlord.

  89R3516 CS-F     By: Zwiener H.B. No. 1247       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the interruption of utility service by a residential   landlord.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 92.008, Property Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (f) and adding Subsection (f-1) to read as   follows:          (f)  If a landlord or a landlord's agent violates this   section, the tenant may:                (1)  either recover possession of the premises or   terminate the lease; and                (2)  in addition to other remedies available under law,   recover from the landlord an amount equal to the sum of the tenant's   actual damages, the tenant's security deposit, one month's rent   plus $1,000, reasonable attorney's fees, and court costs[ , less any   delinquent rents or other sums for which the tenant is liable to the   landlord ].           (f-1)     A landlord who violates this section may not collect   delinquent rent from a tenant.          SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only   to a violation that occurs on or after the effective date of this   Act. A violation that occurs before the effective date of this Act   is governed by the law in effect on the date the violation occurred,   and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.