House Bill No. 5456 aims to enhance resident safety from criminal activity in senior retirement communities by establishing new regulations under a newly added Chapter 786 in the Health and Safety Code. The bill defines key terms such as "senior retirement community," "resident," and "common amenity," and outlines the requirements for these communities to ensure safety. Specifically, it mandates that senior retirement communities conduct criminal history checks for employees, disclose safety policies in resident contracts, and maintain a communication policy regarding criminal activity. The bill also requires timely notification to residents about known criminal incidents and trespassing occurrences.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions that protect residents' rights to communicate with law enforcement and prohibits senior retirement communities from penalizing residents for such communications. It also ensures that the communities cannot be held liable for compliance with the outlined safety measures. Exemptions are provided for certain types of facilities, such as health care institutions and boarding homes. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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