Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

_______________________________ HOUSING
77 th Texas Legislature
Home Buying and Surveys - S.B. 1707
by Senator Van de Putte
House Sponsor: Representative Thompson
Currently, when an individual takes out a loan to buy a home, the lender may require the buyer to purchase
title insurance to protect the lender’s collateral. The title insurance company (insurer) bases the policy on a
survey of the property.
Requires the commissioner of insurance to adopt rules allowing an insurer to accept an existing real
property survey and prohibits insurers from discriminating in providing area and boundary coverage.
Liens on Manufactured Homes - H.B. 468
by Representatives Solomons and Heflin
Senate Sponsor: Senator Shapiro
Tax assessors and collectors often find it difficult to collect delinquent property taxes on manufactured
homes because they are so easily moved around. Sales of manufactured homes often take place between
individuals, without going through a title company, and a purchaser may move the home with no knowledge
of any additional tax burden incurred.
Requires the chief appraiser to determine that no unpaid ad valorem taxes on a manufactured home have
been reported due before a permit for moving the manufactured home is issued.
Eliminates the procedure of filing and releasing liens.
Provides that violation of H.B. 468 is a Class C misdemeanor, except that it is a misdemeanor offense
punishable by $500 if the violation involves moving a manufactured house over a highway, road, or street
without a permit issued by the Texas Department of Transportation.
Amends the Texas Manufactured Housing Standards Act to prohibit the Texas Department of Housing and
Community Affairs from suspending, revoking, or refusing to issue a document of title unless a local tax lien
was filed before September 1, 2001.
Rental Regulations and Manufactured Home Communities - H.B. 557
by Representative Dukes, et al.
Senate Sponsor: Senator Lucio
Manufactured home communities have fewer laws and regulations governing the relationships between
landlord and tenant than other rental properties.
Requires landlords to provide tenants with a lease agreement and current copy of community rules and
similar laws that govern other properties, in order to maintain a healthy, safe, and functional community.
Senate Research Center 166