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Bill Summary · SB 340

Legislative bill overview

SB 340 establishes standards and procedures for how landlords in Texas may screen residential rental applicants. The bill likely sets parameters around what information landlords can request, how they can use that information, and what protections apply to applicants during the screening process.

Why is this important

Rental screening practices directly affect housing access for millions of Texans, influencing who can secure housing based on credit history, criminal background, eviction records, and other factors. Clear statutory standards can reduce discriminatory practices while balancing legitimate landlord interests in tenant selection, and may address growing concerns about predatory screening fees and practices.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of permissible screening criteria: Disagreement over which factors landlords should be allowed to consider (criminal history depth, time limits on evictions, credit score thresholds) versus concerns about perpetuating discrimination against protected classes
  • Cost and fee regulations: Whether the bill limits what landlords can charge for application screening and background checks, affecting landlord profitability versus tenant affordability
  • Liability and accuracy standards: Questions about landlord responsibility for accuracy of screening information and whether they must use third-party screening companies versus conducting independent checks

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

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