Monitoring the Session

SB 790

simpler fix for tenant complaints over landlord water bills

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Carol AlvaradoDSenate 6

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

Caption

relating to the procedure for resolving certain customer complaints before the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

The Public Utility Commission writes the rules.

The bill lets the Public Utility Commission write rules for a simpler way to settle tenant complaints against landlords over water or wastewater bills. It covers renters who are billed for water by their landlord and the owners who bill them. If the commission adopts the rules, those complaints can be resolved outside the state's formal contested-case hearing law, which should make them faster and less formal.

Labels

Labels: BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 4106 by Rep. Dean (Vetoed). 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.CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Carol Alvarado (D) in the Senate. Lead sponsor Ryan Guillen (R) in the House. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB790 · 2025-01-15

SOLD BY

Sen. Carol AlvaradoDSenate 6

+ 2 coauthors

ITEM

relating to the procedure for resolving certain customer complaints before the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

WHAT IT DOES

The Public Utility Commission writes the rules.

The bill lets the Public Utility Commission write rules for a simpler way to settle tenant complaints against landlords over water or wastewater bills. It covers renters who are billed for water by their landlord and the owners who bill them. If the commission adopts the rules, those complaints can be resolved outside the state's formal contested-case hearing law, which should make them faster and less formal.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 2, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Vote taken in committee
  8. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  9. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  10. Committee report printed and distributed
  11. Placed on intent calendar
  12. Co-author authorized
  13. Rules suspended-Constitutional 60-Day
  14. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  15. Vote recorded in Journal
  16. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  17. Vote recorded in Journal
  18. Three day rule suspended
  19. Record vote
  20. Read 3rd time
  21. Passed
  22. Record vote
  23. Reported engrossed
  24. Received from the Senate
  25. Read first time
  26. Referred to Natural Resources
  27. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  28. Considered in public hearing
  29. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  30. Left pending in committee
  31. Considered in formal meeting
  32. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  33. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  34. Committee report distributed
  35. Committee report sent to Calendars
  36. Considered in Calendars
  37. Placed on General State Calendar
  38. Read 2nd time
  39. Passed to 3rd reading
  40. Record vote RV#3698
  41. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  42. Read 3rd time
  43. Passed
  44. Record vote RV#3839
  45. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  46. House passage reported
  47. Reported enrolled
  48. Signed in the Senate
  49. Signed in the House
  50. Sent to the Governor
  51. Signed by the Governor
  52. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 95 yea · 39 nay

Senate · 27 yea · 3 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 28, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Mar 6, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Carol Alvarado

Donors

Texas Sands PAC$25KTexas REALTORS Political Action Committee$20KTexas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 30, 2024 to Jun 19, 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.

Texas Sands PAC$25,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$25,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$25,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 6, 2024 to Mar 16, 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: 101012403, 101030499, 101059972.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$20,000.00

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$20,000.00

Cash
$20,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$20,000.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Dec 8, 2025. 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: 101007246, 101030499.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$20,000.00

Cash
$20,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$20,000.00

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 30, 2024 to Dec 9, 2025. 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: 101012403, 101030499.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$25,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$25,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 6, 2024 to Mar 16, 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: 101012403, 101030499, 101059972.

×

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$20,000.00

Cash
$20,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$20,000.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Dec 8, 2025. 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: 101007246, 101030499.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$20,000.00

Cash
$20,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$20,000.00

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 30, 2024 to Dec 9, 2025. 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: 101012403, 101030499.

Votes5

House May 28, 2025

Yea
95
Nay
39
Present, not voting
2
Absent
8
Excused
6
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 3839

SB 790 was passed by (Record 3839): 95 Yeas, 39 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 95 (published)
  • Nay: 39 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 8 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 6 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 27, 2025

Yea
112
Nay
29
Present, not voting
1
Absent
5
Excused
3
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 3698

SB 790 was passed to third reading by (Record 3698): 112 Yeas, 29 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 112 (published)
  • Nay: 29 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 5 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Mar 6, 2025

Yea
27
Nay
3
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
1
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 27 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Mar 6, 2025

Yea
27
Nay
3
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
1
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Alvarado moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 790 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 27 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Mar 6, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
1
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

Senator Alvarado moved that Senate Rule 7.13, Senate Rule 7.07(a), and the regular order of business be suspended and that SB 790 be taken up for consideration at this time: SB 790, Relating to the procedure for resolving certain customer complaints before the Public Utility Commission of Texas. The motion prevailed. Senators Creighton and Middleton asked to be recorded as voting "Nay" on suspension of the regular order of business. The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses12
For
10
Against
0
On
2
Names

For

  • AARP Texas1 registration
  • AECT - Association of Electric Companies of Texas1 registration
  • Association of Electric Companies of Texas1 registration
  • Self3 registrations
  • Texans for Lawsuit Reform1 registration
  • Texas Apartment Association2 registrations
  • Texas Realtors1 registration

On

  • Public Utility Commission of Texas2 registrations
Sources

12 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 2, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R HB 4106

by Rep. Dean, different lead author · Vetoed · same text

Introduced text

Last action, Jun 18, 2023: Vetoed by the Governor

Relating to the procedure for resolving certain customer complaints before the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Jan 15, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed · House Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Paul BettencourtRSenate 7 Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21
Sponsors
Ryan GuillenRHouse 31

House committee · Natural Resources · Committee vote 8 aye, 0 nay, 5 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Utilities--General

Utilities--Water & Sewer

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES

WATER & SEWER SERVICE

PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION

Text

The text as introduced · 171 words

89R4498 CS-F

By: Alvarado
S.B. No. 790

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the procedure for resolving certain customer complaints

before the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter M, Chapter 13, Water Code, is amended

by adding Section 13.5051 to read as follows:

Sec. 13.5051. SIMPLIFIED COMPLAINT PROCESS. (a) The

utility commission by rule may adopt a simplified procedure to

resolve a complaint by a tenant against an owner about a bill for

water or wastewater service brought under Section 13.503, 13.5031,

or 13.505.

(b) Chapter 2001, Government Code, does not apply to the

resolution of a complaint using a procedure described in Subsection

(a).

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.