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Bill

HB 798

Relating to certain rights and duties of residential tenants and landlords; increasing the amount of civil penalties.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Sheryl Cole and 4 co-sponsors

HB 798 expands Texas tenant-landlord rights and duties while increasing civil penalties for violations to strengthen residential tenancy enforcement.

Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
#covid-19(sb9ym) #civilremedies&liabilities(i0065) #courts--general(i0160) #lawyers(i0515) #propertyinterests--landlord&tenant(i0610) #statebaroftexas(v2529) #supremecourt(v0311)
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Bill Summary · HB 798

Legislative bill overview

HB 798 modifies Texas residential landlord-tenant law by expanding tenant and landlord rights and duties while increasing civil penalties for violations. The bill addresses enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with residential tenancy obligations, though specific provisions are not detailed in the available action history.

Why is this important

Landlord-tenant disputes are common in Texas, affecting hundreds of thousands of residents annually. Changes to rights, duties, and penalty amounts directly impact housing stability, rental affordability, and dispute resolution costs for both tenants and property owners across the state.

Potential points of contention

  • Penalty increase magnitude – Civil penalties that are too high may disproportionately affect small landlords or result in higher rental costs passed to tenants; penalties that are too low may fail to deter violations
  • Definition of tenant/landlord rights – Expanding rights for one party (e.g., repair obligations, notice periods, eviction restrictions) may reduce flexibility or profitability for the other party
  • Enforcement burden – New duties require clear implementation standards; ambiguous language could lead to inconsistent application and litigation costs

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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