HB2037 - Relating to repairs made pursuant to a residential or manufactured home tenant's notice of intent to repair and the provision of notice regarding a residential or manufactured home tenant's security deposit.

      H.B. No. 2037         AN ACT   relating to repairs made pursuant to a residential or manufactured   home tenant's notice of intent to repair and the provision of notice   regarding a residential or manufactured home tenant's security   deposit.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 92.0561(f), Property Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (f)  Repairs made pursuant to the tenant's notice must be   made by an independent [ a ] company, contractor, or repairman   [ listed in the yellow or business pages of the telephone directory   or in the classified advertising section of a newspaper of the local   city, county, or adjacent county at the time of the tenant's notice   of intent to repair ]. If the rental unit is located in a   municipality requiring the company, contractor, or repairman to be   licensed, the person or entity performing the repair must be   licensed in accordance with the municipality's requirements.   Unless the landlord and tenant agree otherwise under Subsection (g)   [ of this section ], repairs may not be made by the tenant, the   tenant's immediate family, the tenant's employer or employees, or a   company in which the tenant has an ownership interest. Repairs may   not be made to the foundation or load-bearing structural elements   of the building if it contains two or more dwelling units.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 92, Property Code, is   amended by adding Sections 92.112 and 92.113 to read as follows:           Sec.   92.112.     AGENTS FOR DELIVERY OF NOTICE. A managing   agent, leasing agent, or resident manager is the agent of the   landlord for purposes of notice and other communications required   or permitted by this subchapter.           Sec.   92.113.     NOTICE BY E-MAIL.   (a)   Notice and other   communications required or permitted by this subchapter may be sent   by e-mail if the tenant and the landlord or landlord's agent have   previously communicated by e-mail.           (b)     The landlord or landlord's agent may designate a   specific e-mail address for a tenant to use for the purpose of   Subsection (a).          SECTION 3.  Subchapter C, Chapter 94, Property Code, is   amended by adding Sections 94.110 and 94.111 to read as follows:           Sec.   94.110.     AGENTS FOR DELIVERY OF NOTICE. A managing   agent, leasing agent, or resident manager is the agent of the   landlord for purposes of notice and other communications required   or permitted by this subchapter.           Sec.   94.111.     NOTICE BY E-MAIL.   (a)   Notice and other   communications required or permitted by this subchapter may be sent   by e-mail if the tenant and the landlord or landlord's agent have   previously communicated by e-mail.           (b)     The landlord or landlord's agent may designate a   specific e-mail address for a tenant to use for the purpose of   Subsection (a).          SECTION 4.  Section 94.157(g), Property Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (g)  Repairs made based on a tenant's notice must be made by   an independent [ a ] company, contractor, or repairman [ listed at the   time of the tenant's notice of intent to repair in the yellow or   business pages of the telephone directory or in the classified   advertising section of a newspaper of the municipality or county in   which the manufactured home community is located or in an adjacent   county ]. If the rental unit is located in a municipality requiring   the company, contractor, or repairman to be licensed, the person or   entity performing the repair must be licensed in accordance with   the municipality's requirements. Unless the landlord and tenant   agree otherwise under Subsection (i), repairs may not be made by the   tenant, the tenant's immediate family, the tenant's employer or   employees, or a company in which the tenant has an ownership   interest. Repairs may not be made to the foundation or load-bearing   structural elements of the manufactured home lot.          SECTION 5.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to   a lease entered into or renewed on or after the effective date of   this Act. A lease entered into or renewed before the effective date   of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before the   effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for   that purpose.          SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 2037 was passed by the House on May 2,   2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 126, Nays 1, 1 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House                 I certify that H.B. No. 2037 was passed by the Senate on May   28, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate       APPROVED:  _____________________                      Date                           _____________________                    Governor