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  89R5181 RAL-D     By: Meza H.B. No. 2184       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a tenant's right to terminate a residential lease   following certain outages of essential utilities.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 92, Property Code, is   amended by adding Section 92.0175 to read as follows:           Sec.   92.0175.     RIGHT TO VACATE AND AVOID LIABILITY FOLLOWING   OUTAGE OF ESSENTIAL UTILITY. (a) In this section, "essential   utility" means:                 (1)  electricity;                 (2)  natural gas; or                 (3)  water.           (b)     Notwithstanding any other law and except as provided by   Subsection (c), a tenant of a dwelling that does not have an   essential utility due to an outage caused directly or indirectly by   severe weather conditions may terminate the tenant's lease, vacate   the dwelling, and avoid liability for future rent and any other sums   due under the lease for terminating the lease and vacating the   dwelling before the end of the lease term if:                 (1)     the tenant notifies the landlord in writing of the   interruption of the essential utility;                 (2)     the essential utility has not been restored before   48 hours after the tenant notified the landlord; and                 (3)     the tenant notifies the landlord in writing of the   tenant's intent to immediately terminate the lease because the   essential utility was not restored.           (c)     This section does not apply during the period a dwelling   does not have an essential utility because a utility service   provider intentionally interrupted provision of a utility service.           (d)     This section does not affect the obligations or   liability of the tenant under the lease before the lease is   terminated under this section, including the liability of the   tenant for:                 (1)  delinquent, unpaid rent; and                 (2)     damages to the leased premises not caused by   normal wear and tear.          SECTION 2.  Section 92.0175, Property Code, as added by this   Act, applies only to a lease agreement entered into or renewed on or   after the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.