Bill Text: TX SB340 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

Texas Senate Bill 340

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to screening by a landlord of applicants for residential tenancies.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2025-02-03 - Referred to Business & Commerce [SB340 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-SB340-Introduced.html

	89R4402 SCR-F

	By: Eckhardt	S.B. No. 340



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to screening by a landlord of applicants for residential
	tenancies.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 92.3515, Property Code, is amended by
	amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
	follows:
	(a) At the time an applicant is provided with a rental
	application and before accepting an application fee, the landlord
	shall make available to the applicant printed notice of the
	landlord's tenant selection criteria and the grounds for which the
	rental application may be denied, including the applicant's:
	(1) criminal history;
	(2) previous rental history;
	(3) current income;
	(4) credit history; or
	(5) failure to provide accurate or complete
	information on the application form.
	(a-1) The printed notice must state in writing that the
	applicant may provide evidence showing:
	(1) the inaccuracies in the applicant's criminal
	history;
	(2) the applicant's rehabilitation; or
	(3) other mitigating factors.
	SECTION 2. Section 92.354, Property Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 92.354. LIABILITY OF LANDLORD. (a) A landlord who in
	bad faith fails to refund an application fee or deposit in violation
	of this subchapter is liable for an amount equal to the sum of $100,
	three times the amount wrongfully retained, and the applicant's
	reasonable attorney's fees.
	(b) A landlord who violates Section 92.3515 is liable for an
	amount equal to the sum of $500 and the applicant's reasonable
	attorney's fees.
	SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
	a rental application submitted on or after the effective date of
	this Act. A rental application submitted before the effective date
	of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before the
	effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in
	effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.