A landlord may not stop a residential tenant from calling police or other emergency help, or punish the tenant for doing so when the tenant reasonably believes help is needed.
Sec. 92.015. TENANT'S RIGHT TO SUMMON POLICE OR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. (a) A landlord may not: (1) prohibit or limit a residential tenant's right to summon police or other emergency assistance based on the tenant's reasonable belief that an individual is in need of intervention or emergency assistance; or (2) impose monetary or other penalties on a tenant who summons police or emergency assistance if the assistance was requested or dispatched based on the tenant's reasonable belief that an individual was in need of intervention or emergency assistance. (b) A provision in a lease is void if the provision purports to: (1) waive a tenant's right to summon police or other emergency assistance based on the tenant's reasonable belief that an individual is in need of intervention or emergency assistance; or (2) exempt any party from a liability or a duty under this section. (c) In addition to other remedies provided by law, if a landlord violates this section, a tenant is entitled to recover from or against the landlord: (1) a civil penalty in an amount equal to one month's rent; (2) actual damages suffered by the tenant as a result of the landlord's violation of this section; (3) court costs; (4) injunctive relief; and (5) reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the tenant in seeking enforcement of this section. (d) For purposes of this section, if a tenant's rent is subsidized in whole or in part by a governmental entity, "one month's rent" means one month's fair market rent. (e) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 337 (H.B. 1099), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2017. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 794, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 337 (H.B. 1099), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 337 (H.B. 1099), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2017.