Bill Text: TX HB970 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to notice requirements for a leased dwelling located in a floodplain.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-05-14 - Referred to Business & Commerce [HB970 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB970-Introduced.html
  86R5704 NC-F
 
  By: Walle H.B. No. 970
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to notice requirements for leased residential property,
  manufactured home lots, or commercial property located in a flood
  zone.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 91, Property Code, is amended by adding
  Section 91.007 to read as follows:
         Sec. 91.007.  NOTICE FOR LEASED PROPERTY LOCATED IN FLOOD
  ZONE. (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Commercial property" means real property not
  zoned or otherwise authorized for use as residential property. 
               (2)  "Dwelling" has the meaning assigned by Section
  92.001.
               (3)  "Flood zone" means any area of land designated by
  the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the National Flood
  Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. Section 4001 et seq.) as an area of
  land that is susceptible to being inundated by water from any
  source, including:
                     (A)  a 100-year floodplain;
                     (B)  a 500-year floodplain; or
                     (C)  a floodway.
               (4)  "Manufactured home lot" has the meaning assigned
  by Section 94.001.
         (b)  Before signing a written lease agreement or entering
  into an oral lease agreement for a dwelling, manufactured home lot,
  or commercial property with a prospective tenant, a landlord or
  landlord's agent must provide the written notice described by
  Subsection (d) to the prospective tenant if any part of the
  following is located in a flood zone:
               (1)  the dwelling, manufactured home lot, or commercial
  property, as applicable;
               (2)  a building in which the dwelling or commercial
  property is located, as applicable;
               (3)  the parking area that will be available to the
  prospective tenant or the tenant's guests or customers; or
               (4)  if the leased property is a dwelling, the storage
  area for personal property that will be available to the
  prospective tenant.
         (c)  If a leased dwelling, lot, property, building, or other
  area described by Subsection (b) is located in an area designated by
  the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a flood zone during the
  term of the lease, the landlord or the landlord's agent shall
  provide the written notice described by Subsection (d) to each
  affected tenant in that area not later than the 30th day after the
  date the flood zone is designated.
         (d)  The written notice must:
               (1)  clearly state which dwelling, lot, property,
  building, or areas listed under Subsection (b) relevant to the
  tenant's lease are located in a flood zone and whether the area is
  located in a 100-year floodplain, 500-year floodplain, floodway, or
  other area susceptible to flooding;
               (2)  if applicable, clearly state that flooding in a
  100-year or 500-year floodplain can and does occur on a more
  frequent basis than once every 100 or 500 years, respectively;
               (3)  if the leased property is a dwelling, clearly
  state that most tenant insurance policies do not cover damages or
  loss incurred in a flood event;
               (4)  recommend that the tenant seek appropriate
  insurance coverage that would cover losses caused by a flood;
               (5)  affirm that the landlord or landlord's agent
  provided the notice:
                     (A)  before the lease agreement was entered into;
  or
                     (B)  if Subsection (c) applies, not later than the
  30th day after the date the flood zone is designated; and
               (6)  be signed and dated by the landlord or landlord's
  agent and tenant.
         (e)  If a landlord or a landlord's agent violates this
  section:
               (1)  the tenant may terminate the lease agreement and
  avoid liability for future rent and any other sums due under the
  agreement for terminating the agreement and vacating the property
  before the end of the lease term; and
               (2)  if the tenant suffers loss of or damage to the
  tenant's personal property as a result of a flood, the tenant is
  entitled to recover from the landlord the following amounts, less
  any delinquent rent or other sum for which the tenant is liable to
  the landlord:
                     (A)  the tenant's actual damages;
                     (B)  the greater of one month's rent or $1,000;
  and
                     (C)  reasonable attorney's fees and court costs
  incurred in recovering the amounts in Paragraphs (A) and (B).
         SECTION 2.  Section 91.007, 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 September 1, 2019.
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