H.B. No. 3879         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, an owner of a multifamily residential   property may be represented by the owner's authorized agent, who   need not be an attorney, or, if the owner 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.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 3879 was passed by the House on May 4,   2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, 2 present, not   voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to   H.B. No. 3879 on May 25, 2017, and requested the appointment of a   conference committee to consider the differences between the two   houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report   on H.B. No. 3879 on May 28, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 144,   Nays 0, 4 present, not voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House               I certify that H.B. No. 3879 was passed by the Senate, with   amendments, on May 23, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays   1; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference   committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and   that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.   3879 on May 28, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 28, Nays 2.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate      APPROVED: __________________                   Date                       __________________                 Governor