87R3746 BEE-D     By: Rosenthal H.B. No. 279       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to pet deposits or fees collected by landlords.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 92, Property Code, is   amended by adding Section 92.027 to read as follows:          Sec. 92.027.  PET DEPOSITS OR FEES. If a lease allows a   tenant to have a pet on the premises, the landlord may collect from   the tenant a one-time refundable or nonrefundable pet deposit at   the initiation of the lease or a monthly fee for the pet, but not   both.          SECTION 2.  Section 92.027, Property Code, as added by this   Act, applies only to a lease entered into or renewed on or after the   effective date of this Act. A lease entered into or renewed before   the effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed   immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is   continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.