Bill Text: TX HB517 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the authority of a property owners' association to assess a fine for discolored vegetation or turf during a period of residential watering restriction.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-12 - Filed [HB517 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB517-Introduced.html
  89R1958 CS-D
 
  By: Harris Davila H.B. No. 517
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the authority of a property owners' association to
  assess a fine for discolored vegetation or turf during a period of
  residential watering restriction.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 202, Property Code, is amended by adding
  Section 202.008 to read as follows:
         Sec. 202.008.  LIMITATION ON FINES DURING RESIDENTIAL WATER
  RESTRICTION. (a) For the purposes of this section, "residential
  watering restriction" means a temporary restriction of water use to
  irrigate residential vegetation or turf that is mandated by a
  municipality, water utility, or other wholesale or retail water
  supplier as part of a strategy to conserve water during a period of
  drought.
         (b)  A property owners' association may not assess a fine
  against a property owner for a violation of an applicable
  restrictive covenant that requires the owner to maintain green
  vegetation or turf or prohibits discolored or brown vegetation or
  turf on the property: 
               (1)  during a period when the owner's property is
  subject to a residential watering restriction under which
  discolored or brown vegetation or turf could reasonably result; and
               (2)  for a reasonable period of time after a
  residential watering restriction described by Subdivision (1) is
  lifted.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
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