As rents increase and Dallas experiences challenges with homelessness and a lack of affordable housing stock, life could become even more difficult for those on a fixed income trying to stay in an apartment.
Senate Bill 986/House Bill 2045, introduced by Republicans Shelby Slawson of Stephenville and Brandon Creighton of Conroe would override a Dallas ordinance that allows renters more time to make rent before being evicted.
The legislation bans cities or counties from enforcing measures that prohibit, restrict, or delay delivery of a notice to vacate or the filing of an eviction lawsuit.
It’s backed by the Texas Apartment Association, but not supported by tenants’ rights and anti-poverty advocates, such as Mark Melton of the Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center.
Proponents say the legislation is necessary to avoid a “patchwork” of eviction rules that would challenge landlords with properties across multiple cities and Justice of the Peace courts that hear eviction cases, according to an in-depth report compiled by Christopher Connelly of KERA News.
David Mintz of the Texas Apartment Association has said it’s important to have consistent regulations across the state.
Melton says more than 40,000 evictions will be filed in Dallas County this year.
“Those tenants need basic protections from unscrupulous landlords,” he wrote on social media with a link to the KERA story. “And there are plenty with no scruples.”
The bill is awaiting a hearing in the House Business and Industry Committee; it’s already passed the Texas Senate.
