The Texas Home Ownership Protection and Enforcement Act aims to combat unauthorized entry and occupancy of real property, as well as the improper sale, rental, or lease of such properties. The bill introduces new criminal offenses for presenting false documents in property transactions and increases penalties for various property-related crimes. It amends the Penal Code to classify offenses based on pecuniary loss and establishes new sections defining fraudulent property transactions, including a Class A misdemeanor for presenting false documents and a first-degree felony for fraudulent sales or rentals of residential real property.

Additionally, the bill provides a framework for property owners to request the immediate removal of unauthorized occupants by law enforcement, detailing the conditions under which a sheriff can act. It includes liability protections for sheriffs and property owners against damages resulting from such removals and allows wrongfully removed individuals to seek damages and recover possession. The bill clarifies that it does not limit the rights of property owners or law enforcement authority regarding offenses like trespassing, vandalism, or theft. Furthermore, it specifies that amendments to Section 28.03 of the Penal Code will apply only to offenses committed on or after the Act's effective date of September 1, 2025, ensuring that prior offenses are governed by the law in effect at that time.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Penal Code 28.03 (Penal Code 28)