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TexasSB 24389th Legislature Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Relating to the regulation of migrant labor housing facilities; changing the amount of a civil penalty.

Sponsored By: Diego M. Bernal, Pete Flores (Republican), John Lujan, Ramon Romero Jr.

Became Law

Civil Remedies & LiabilitiesHousing--GeneralLabor--Agricultural WorkersLabor--Health & SafetyHOUSING & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Migrant workers gain safer complaint options

Occupants, prospective occupants, their representatives, and witnesses to clear violations can report migrant housing problems. Complaints can go through the Texas housing department's website, in person, by phone, or in writing. The department must notify operators within five days, including the complaint date, subject, contacts, and repair deadlines. It can dismiss unfounded complaints or complaints outside its standards, but must record why and promptly notify operators. After verifying written permission, the department must allow representatives to protect workers' names without being forced to reveal them. Housing providers, employers of workers living there, and farm labor contractors cannot retaliate against good-faith reporting.

Repair deadlines protect migrant housing occupants

Migrant housing operators generally must fix reported problems within seven days after notice. Operators can submit visual proof and a sworn statement showing repairs. The state must arrange an inspection promptly after day seven if proof is missing or notice used registered or certified mail. For complaints the state finds involve urgent health or safety threats, operators generally have 30 days after notice. The state can refer these complaints for immediate local inspection. If repairs are expected to exceed 30 days, state procedures must require relocation to nearby housing that meets occupancy standards. Rent cannot increase, but this relocation right excludes temporary H-2A visa workers. The law took effect September 1, 2025; its revised enforcement rules cover only violations with no element occurring before that date.

Migrant housing penalties and lawsuit rights

The law replaces the former $200-per-day amount with penalties of at least $50 per occupant per day of violation. A state schedule must increase penalties for repeat violations. For general repair complaints, penalties start at the earlier state finding or inspection showing that repairs failed. For qualifying urgent-hazard complaints, penalties start on day 31 after notice unless occupants are relocated as required. The department can collect through an agency hearing; county attorneys or the attorney general can sue at its request. Resident migrant agricultural workers can sue to collect after filing a qualifying complaint, but temporary H-2A workers cannot. Collection suits must wait during related agency hearings, injunction cases, county or attorney general cases, pending repair inspections, or required relocation housing. Courts may award reasonable attorney fees to either side that wins a lawsuit under this housing law. Agency and county or attorney general recoveries go to general revenue and may be appropriated only for department enforcement, not automatically spent.

Housing outreach and privacy for farmworkers

The Texas housing department must teach migrant farmworkers about their housing rights and remedies, and housing providers about their duties. Materials must be available in English, Spanish, and other appropriate languages, with language-capable staff where migrant housing is most common. The department must survey workers and study regional housing types and needs for more or better facilities. It must identify state agencies that can help find unlicensed housing; shared information is confidential and only for locating those facilities. Shared records must exclude worker-identifying information, and the department must adopt rules implementing the revised law by March 1, 2026.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Diego M. Bernal

    House

  • Pete Flores

    Republican • Senate

  • John Lujan

    House

  • Ramon Romero Jr.

    House

Cosponsors

  • César Blanco

    Democratic • Senate

  • Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa

    Democratic • Senate

  • José Menéndez

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 506 • No: 128

House vote • 5/22/2025

Record vote

Yes: 114 • No: 29

House vote • 5/21/2025

Record vote

Yes: 98 • No: 36

House vote • 5/21/2025

Record vote

Yes: 97 • No: 39

House vote • 5/21/2025

Record vote

Yes: 117 • No: 24

Senate vote • 5/5/2025

Record vote

Yes: 31 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/5/2025

Record vote

Yes: 31 • No: 0

Senate vote • Unknown

Committee vote: Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Yes: 9 • No: 0

House vote • Unknown

Committee vote: Intergovernmental Affairs

Yes: 9 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective on 9/1/25

    6/20/2025House

  2. Filed without the Governor's signature

    6/20/2025House

  3. Sent to the Governor

    5/27/2025House

  4. Signed in the House

    5/26/2025House

  5. Signed in the Senate

    5/26/2025Senate

  6. Reported enrolled

    5/23/2025Senate

  7. House passage reported

    5/23/2025Senate

  8. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

    5/22/2025House

  9. Record vote (RV#3198)

    5/22/2025House

  10. Passed

    5/22/2025House

  11. Read 3rd time

    5/22/2025House

  12. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

    5/21/2025House

  13. Record vote (RV#3162)

    5/21/2025House

  14. Passed to 3rd reading

    5/21/2025House

  15. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

    5/21/2025House

  16. Record vote (RV#3161)

    5/21/2025House

  17. Amendment tabled (3-Hopper)

    5/21/2025House

  18. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

    5/21/2025House

  19. Record vote (RV#3160)

    5/21/2025House

  20. Amendment tabled (2-Hopper)

    5/21/2025House

  21. Amendment fails of adoption (1-Olcott)

    5/21/2025House

  22. Laid out as postponed business

    5/21/2025House

  23. Postponed (5/21/25 10:00 AM)

    5/20/2025House

  24. Laid out as postponed business

    5/20/2025House

  25. Postponed (5/20/25 3:00 PM)

    5/20/2025House

Bill Text

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