The bill amends the Texas Property Code to establish a landlord's duty to provide and maintain heating and air conditioning equipment in good operating condition within apartment units. Specifically, it introduces a new section, 92.027, which mandates that landlords ensure the equipment can cool each room to 65 degrees Fahrenheit and heat each room to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, it specifies that this duty cannot be waived by the landlord. The bill also modifies existing provisions regarding a landlord's obligations to repair conditions affecting tenant health and safety, explicitly including the maintenance of heating and air conditioning systems as a requirement.

Furthermore, the bill outlines the responsibilities of landlords if they fail to meet these requirements, including the provision of portable heating and air conditioning equipment or alternative housing accommodations at no cost to the tenant. It establishes a rebuttable presumption that a reasonable time for repairs is seven days, or five days if the issue pertains to heating and air conditioning equipment. The changes will apply only to residential leases entered into or renewed after the bill's effective date of September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Property Code 92.006, Property Code 92.052, Property Code 92.056 (Property Code 92)