A property owners' association generally may not block owners or residents from inviting qualified governmental officials or candidates to meet in common areas.
Sec. 202.013. REGULATION OF ASSEMBLY, ASSOCIATION, AND SPEECH. (a) This section does not apply to a common area of a property owners' association that is not made available for meetings: (1) due to designated seasonal use; or (2) other than a meeting of the property owners' association, the board of the property owners' association, or a committee of the association or the association's board. (b) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a property owners' association may not adopt or enforce a provision in a dedicatory instrument that prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting a property owner or resident from inviting governmental officials and candidates who have been qualified in the appropriate election to run for public governmental office to address or meet with property owners' association members, residents, or their invitees in common areas of the association. (c) A property owners' association may require gatherings described by Subsection (b) to abide by the same provisions of a dedicatory instrument that apply to any other gathering held in a common area of the association, including a provision: (1) requiring a room rental fee or deposit; (2) limiting the maximum occupancy of the common area where the meeting is to be held; (3) establishing hours during which a meeting may be held in the common area; (4) specifying the common areas of the association that are available to the association members for meetings; or (5) requiring a written reservation or rental agreement. (d) This section does not apply to a property owners' association that qualifies for tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 551 (H.B. 621), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.