TITLE: Relating to landlord and tenant dispute information reported by justice courts to the Texas Judicial Council and made accessible to the public.

SUMMARY: Relating to landlord and tenant dispute information reported by justice courts to the Texas Judicial Council and made accessible to the public.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to landlord and tenant dispute information reported by justice courts to the Texas Judicial Council and made accessible to the public. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 71, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 71.0354 to read as follows: Sec. 71.0354. LANDLORD AND TENANT DISPUTE INFORMATION: JUSTICE COURTS. (a) As a component of the official monthly report submitted to the council, a justice court shall report by category each case filed in the court involving a dispute between a landlord and tenant under Chapter 24, Property Code, or Title 8, Property Code, including: (1) eviction suits; (2) suits involving the disconnection of utilities; (3) repair and remedy suits; (4) suits involving security deposits; (5) suits involving unlawful lockouts; (6) suits involving the provision of security and safety devices; and (7) any other category of suit involving a landlord or tenant brought under Title 8, Property Code, and designated by the council. (b) The council may adopt rules as necessary to implement this section. SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 72, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 72.0345 to read as follows: Sec. 72.0345. LANDLORD AND TENANT DISPUTE INFORMATION. (a) The office shall publish on the Internet website maintained by the office information on cases filed in justice courts related to landlord and tenant disputes. The information must include for each case: (1) the justice court in which the case is filed, including the precinct and county in which the court is located; (2) whether any legal counsel or agent is representing the defendant; (3) whether any legal counsel or agent is representing the plaintiff; and (4) the disposition of the case. (b) The office shall make the information required by Subsection (a) available on the public information Internet website in a format that is searchable by date and jurisdiction. SECTION 3. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act: (1) the Texas Judicial Council shall prescribe the categories of landlord and tenant suits a justice court is required to report under Section 71.0354, Government Code, as added by this Act, and the procedures for reporting under that section; and (2) the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System shall publish in a searchable format on the public information Internet website the landlord and tenant dispute information as required by Section 72.0345, Government Code, as added by this Act. (b) Notwithstanding Section 71.0354, Government Code, as added by this Act, a justice court is not required to report landlord and tenant dispute information under that section until after the Texas Judicial Council establishes the categories and procedures for reporting under that section. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.