H.B. No. 2184 introduces a new provision to the Texas Property Code, specifically adding Section 92.0175, which grants tenants the right to terminate their residential lease without liability under certain conditions related to outages of essential utilities. Essential utilities are defined as electricity, natural gas, and water. If a tenant experiences an outage of these utilities due to severe weather, they can terminate their lease if they notify the landlord in writing about the outage, and if the utility is not restored within 48 hours. Additionally, the tenant must inform the landlord of their intent to terminate the lease due to the continued outage.

The bill also clarifies that this right does not apply if the utility service provider intentionally interrupted the service, and it does not affect the tenant's obligations under the lease prior to termination, such as unpaid rent or damages not resulting from normal wear and tear. The new provisions will only apply to lease agreements entered into or renewed after the effective date of the Act, which is set for January 1, 2026.

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