Monitoring the SessionHB 3198
Died in committee
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
relating to screening by a landlord of applicants for residential tenancies.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Skip the notice, owe the applicant $500 plus attorney’s fees.
The bill requires a landlord to give rental applicants printed notice of tenant selection criteria before taking an application fee. That notice must tell applicants they can submit evidence of errors in their criminal history, of rehabilitation, or of other mitigating factors. It covers residential landlords and applicants, and a landlord who breaks the notice rule owes the applicant $500 plus reasonable attorney's fees.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R SB 198 by Sen. Eckhardt (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 198 by Sen. Eckhardt (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Feb 21, 2025 and referred to the House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-HB3198 · 2025-02-21
relating to screening by a landlord of applicants for residential tenancies.
Skip the notice, owe the applicant $500 plus attorney’s fees.
The bill requires a landlord to give rental applicants printed notice of tenant selection criteria before taking an application fee. That notice must tell applicants they can submit evidence of errors in their criminal history, of rehabilitation, or of other mitigating factors. It covers residential landlords and applicants, and a landlord who breaks the notice rule owes the applicant $500 plus reasonable attorney's fees.
[ ] NONE FOUND
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
THE TEXT
“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.”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill creates a private right to sue landlords for $500 plus attorney's fees over notice violations.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Not tied to this bill.
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
$9,000.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 1, 2024 to Apr 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100986920, 101030360, 101059410.
$7,000.00
Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Dec 11, 2024 to Jun 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Derived itemized flow · on Dec 11, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100986920.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$9,000.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 1, 2024 to Apr 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100986920, 101030360, 101059410.
$7,000.00
Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Dec 11, 2024 to Jun 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Derived itemized flow · on Dec 11, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100986920.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
by Sen. Eckhardt, different lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Feb 15, 2023: Referred to Business & Commerce
Relating to criminal history screening of applicants for residential tenancies.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Feb 21, 2025
03/20/2025 H Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development: Mar 20 2025 11:50AM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Trade, Workforce & Economic Development · Final status: Died in committee
SB 340 by Eckhardt (identical)
Corrections--Parole, Probation & Pardons
Property Interests--Landlord & Tenant
ATTORNEY'S FEES
The text as introduced · 321 words
89R4402 SCR-F By: Jones of Harris H.B. No. 3198 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.