Bill > HB3273

This bill introduces several significant changes to property law in Texas, focusing on protecting property owners and addressing unauthorized occupancy. First, it modifies the legal definition of disability for property-related limitation periods, expanding the definition to include students in higher education and military service members, regardless of wartime status. Second, the bill creates a new criminal offense of fraudulent sale, rental, or lease of residential real property, making it a first-degree felony for individuals to list, advertise, sell, rent, or lease property without legal title or authority. Third, it establishes a new chapter in the Property Code that allows property owners to request sheriff assistance in removing 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, requiring sworn statements and documentation, and outlines the sheriff's responsibilities in verifying and executing removal. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for potential legal recourse if a removal is deemed wrongful, allowing the improperly removed person to seek damages. The new laws will take effect on September 1, 2025, and apply to causes of action that accrue on or after that date.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB3273