By: Hernandez (Senate Sponsor - Huffman) H.B. No. 240          (In the Senate - Received from the House April 27, 2017;   May 10, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal   Justice; May 19, 2017, reported adversely, with favorable   Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0;   May 19, 2017, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 240 By:  Whitmire     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to evidence in a suit to abate certain common nuisances.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:   SECTION 1.  Section 125.004, Civil Practice and Remedies   Code, is amended by adding Subsections (a-1), (a-2), and (e) to read   as follows:          (a-1)  Proof in the form of a person's arrest or the   testimony of a law enforcement agent that an activity described by   Section 125.0015(a)(6) or (7) is committed at a place licensed as a   massage establishment under Chapter 455, Occupations Code, or   advertised as offering massage therapy or massage services is prima   facie evidence that the defendant knowingly tolerated the activity.          (a-2)  Proof that an activity described by Section   125.0015(a)(18) is committed at a place maintained by the defendant   is prima facie evidence that the defendant:                (1)  knowingly tolerated the activity; and                (2)  did not make a reasonable attempt to abate the   activity.          (e)  Evidence of a previous suit filed under this chapter   that resulted in a judgment against a landowner with respect to an   activity described by Section 125.0015 at the landowner's property   is admissible in a subsequent suit filed under this chapter to   demonstrate that the landowner:                (1)  knowingly tolerated the activity; and                (2)  did not make a reasonable attempt to abate the   activity.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.     * * * * *