By: Goldman (Senate Sponsor - Hancock) H.B. No. 3879          (In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 2017;   May 10, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on Business &   Commerce; May 22, 2017, reported adversely, with favorable   Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 1;   May 22, 2017, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 3879 By:  Estes     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to nonlawyer representation in an appeal of an eviction   suit.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 24.011, Property Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 24.011.  NONLAWYER REPRESENTATION. (a) In eviction   suits in justice court for nonpayment of rent or holding over beyond   a rental term, the parties may represent themselves or be   represented by their authorized agents, who need not be attorneys.   In any eviction suit in justice court, an authorized agent   requesting or obtaining a default judgment need not be an attorney.          (b)  In an appeal of an eviction suit for nonpayment of rent   in a county or district court, the parties may represent   themselves, or a party may be represented by the party's authorized   agent, who need not be an attorney, including, if the party is a   corporation or other entity, by an employee, owner, officer, or   partner of the entity, who need not be an attorney.          SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only   to an appeal taken on or after the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.     * * * * *