Goodwin Bill Pays Landlords A Month’s Rent For Broken Leases

The text as introduced · 518 words

89R7017 SCR-D

By: Goodwin
H.B. No. 2748

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a pilot program to disburse payments to residential

landlords when tenants terminate leases following family violence,

certain sex offenses, or stalking.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 92, Property Code, is

amended by adding Section 92.0165 to read as follows:

Sec. 92.0165. PILOT PROGRAM TO DISBURSE PAYMENTS TO CERTAIN

LANDLORDS. (a) In this section:

(1) "Department" means the Texas Department of Housing

and Community Affairs.

(2) "Pilot program" means the pilot program

established by this section.

(b) The department by rule shall establish and implement a

pilot program to disburse a payment to a landlord in an amount equal

to one month's rent under a terminated lease if the tenant

terminates the lease and vacates the dwelling before the end of the

lease term under Section 92.016 or 92.0161.

(c) The department shall adopt rules to govern the

implementation and administration of the pilot program. Rules

adopted under this subsection must provide that payments disbursed

under the pilot program accomplish the public purpose of ensuring

the safety and protection of victims of conduct described by

Section 71.004, Family Code, or Sections 92.0161(c) and (c-1) of

this code and that the state receives a return benefit.

(d) The department may contract with a third party for the

development of online services necessary to implement the pilot

program.

(e) A landlord may apply to participate in the pilot program

in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the department.

(f) In addition to money appropriated by the legislature,

the department may accept gifts, grants, or donations from any

source to administer and finance the pilot program.

(g) Not later than January 1, 2029, the department shall

prepare and submit to the legislature a report documenting the

outcomes of the pilot program. The report:

(1) must include:

(A) the number of landlords who participated in

the pilot program;

(B) the total amount disbursed under the pilot

program, disaggregated by individual disbursements; and

(C) the geographic location, including

identifiable geographic trends, of eligible landlords that

received a disbursement; and

(2) may not contain any personally identifying

information of a tenant that terminates a lease and vacates a

dwelling before the end of the lease term under Section 92.016 or

92.0161.

(h) Notwithstanding Section 92.0161(j), a landlord may

disclose information received under Section 92.0161(c), (c-1), or

(d) to the department to the extent prescribed by department rule

for purposes of the pilot program. Information provided to the

department under this section that identifies or tends to identify

a vacating tenant or crime victim described by Section 92.016 or

92.0161 is confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter

552, Government Code.

(i) The pilot program concludes and this section expires

September 1, 2029.

SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2026, the Texas

Department of Housing and Community Affairs shall adopt rules

necessary to administer the pilot program established under Section

92.0165, Property Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.