colonia home buyers can get the contract in Spanish

The text as introduced · 316 words

89R9456 PRL-D

By: Zaffirini
S.B. No. 1618

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to certain contracts for the purchase of residential real

property located in a colonia.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 5, Property Code, is

amended by adding Section 5.088 to read as follows:

Sec. 5.088. SPANISH TRANSLATION REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN

RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS. (a) In this section,

"colonia" means a geographic area that:

(1) is an economically distressed area as defined by

Section 17.921, Water Code;

(2) is located in a county any part of which is within

62 miles of an international border; and

(3) consists of 11 or more dwellings that are located

in close proximity to each other in an area that may be described as

a community or neighborhood.

(b) A copy of an executory contract for conveyance of

residential real property located in a colonia written in Spanish

must be provided if the purchaser or potential purchaser requests

that the contract be provided in Spanish.

(c) The copy of the executory contract described by

Subsection (b) must be written by a translator certified in

Spanish.

(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), the executed contract

and any other binding and controlling document between the seller

and purchaser must be written in English.

(e) Nothing in this section may be construed to affect an

executory contract for the conveyance of residential real property

not located in a colonia.

SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to

a contract entered into on or after the effective date of this Act.

A contract entered into before the effective date of this Act is

governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date

of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

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