H.B. No. 617 aims to prohibit housing discrimination based on veteran status in Texas. The bill amends various sections of the Property Code to include "veteran status" as a protected category alongside race, color, religion, sex, familial status, and national origin. Specifically, it adds a definition for "veteran status" and modifies existing provisions to ensure that discrimination against individuals based on their veteran status is explicitly prohibited in the sale, rental, and advertisement of dwellings. The bill also stipulates that complaints regarding discrimination based on veteran status cannot be deferred to municipalities that lack corresponding laws against such discrimination.

Additionally, the bill outlines that the Texas Workforce Commission's civil rights division will only handle complaints filed after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025. This ensures that any complaints filed before this date will be governed by the previous laws. Overall, the legislation seeks to enhance protections for veterans in housing transactions and promote fair housing practices across Texas.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Property Code 301.003, Property Code 301.021, Property Code 301.022, Property Code 301.023, Property Code 301.024, Property Code 301.026, Property Code 301.027, Property Code 301.042, Property Code 301.068, Property Code 301.171 (Property Code 301)