Bill > HB1076

This bill introduces several significant legal changes related to unauthorized property occupation and fraudulent real estate activities in Texas. It modifies the Penal Code to create new criminal offenses and adjust existing penalty structures for property-related crimes. Specifically, the bill establishes two new criminal offenses: first, making it a Class A misdemeanor to present false documents (like fraudulent lease agreements or deeds) with the intent to occupy a property, and second, creating a first-degree felony for knowingly listing, advertising, selling, renting, or leasing residential property without legal title or authority to do so. Additionally, the bill creates a new legal mechanism allowing property owners to request that county sheriffs immediately remove unauthorized occupants from a dwelling under specific conditions, such as the property not being open to the public, the owner having directed the occupant to leave, and the occupant not being a current/former tenant or family member. The bill provides a detailed complaint process for property owners, outlines the sheriff's responsibilities in verifying and executing removal, and establishes potential liability for wrongful removal. The new provisions aim to provide property owners with more straightforward tools to address unauthorized occupation while also creating legal protections against potential abuse of these new procedures.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB1076