Bill Text: TX HB1930 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Relating to landlord and tenant dispute information reported by justice courts to the Texas Judicial Council and made accessible to the public.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-04-28 - Received from the House [HB1930 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB1930-Engrossed.html
By: Walle | H.B. No. 1930 |
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relating to landlord and tenant dispute information reported by | ||
justice courts to the Texas Judicial Council and made accessible to | ||
the public. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 71, Government Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 71.0354 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 71.0354. LANDLORD AND TENANT DISPUTE INFORMATION: | ||
JUSTICE COURTS. (a) As a component of the official monthly report | ||
submitted to the council, a justice court shall report by category | ||
each case filed in the court involving a dispute between a landlord | ||
and tenant under Chapter 24, Property Code, or Title 8, Property | ||
Code, including: | ||
(1) eviction suits; | ||
(2) suits involving the disconnection of utilities; | ||
(3) repair and remedy suits; | ||
(4) suits involving security deposits; | ||
(5) suits involving unlawful lockouts; | ||
(6) suits involving the provision of security and | ||
safety devices; and | ||
(7) any other category of suit involving a landlord or | ||
tenant brought under Title 8, Property Code, and designated by the | ||
council. | ||
(b) The council may adopt rules as necessary to implement | ||
this section. | ||
SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 72, Government Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 72.0345 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 72.0345. LANDLORD AND TENANT DISPUTE INFORMATION. (a) | ||
The office shall publish on the Internet website maintained by the | ||
office information on cases filed in justice courts related to | ||
landlord and tenant disputes. The information must include for | ||
each case: | ||
(1) the justice court in which the case is filed, | ||
including the precinct and county in which the court is located; | ||
(2) whether any legal counsel or agent is representing | ||
the defendant; | ||
(3) whether any legal counsel or agent is representing | ||
the plaintiff; and | ||
(4) the disposition of the case. | ||
(b) The office shall make the information required by | ||
Subsection (a) available on the public information Internet website | ||
in a format that is searchable by date and jurisdiction. | ||
SECTION 3. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective | ||
date of this Act: | ||
(1) the Texas Judicial Council shall prescribe the | ||
categories of landlord and tenant suits a justice court is required | ||
to report under Section 71.0354, Government Code, as added by this | ||
Act, and the procedures for reporting under that section; and | ||
(2) the Office of Court Administration of the Texas | ||
Judicial System shall publish in a searchable format on the public | ||
information Internet website the landlord and tenant dispute | ||
information as required by Section 72.0345, Government Code, as | ||
added by this Act. | ||
(b) Notwithstanding Section 71.0354, Government Code, as | ||
added by this Act, a justice court is not required to report | ||
landlord and tenant dispute information under that section until | ||
after the Texas Judicial Council establishes the categories and | ||
procedures for reporting under that section. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |