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Texas: no signed law starts in 2027, so far
All clear, Texas. Checked: every Texas law from 2025 (the regular session and both special sessions) and the Supreme Court’s rule orders through Oct 30, 2026; agency rules not checked. No landlord-tenant statute or eviction rule carries a Jan 1, 2027 date. Bills for 2027 are being filed; filed is not signed.
Days to return the deposit, in eight states
Texas: 30 days after surrender and a written forwarding address. Late is presumed bad faith: $100, three times the amount wrongfully withheld, and attorney’s fees.
Checked Nov 5, 2026, at each state’s own statute text.
Signed laws found as of Oct 30, 2026
Every Texas law from 2025, the regular session and both special sessions, and the Supreme Court’s rule orders were read through Oct 30, 2026. Agency rules not checked; city and county rules are not covered. Missed one? Write to hello@landlorddispatch.com.
Date math
The session opens on the second Tuesday of January in odd-numbered years (Gov. Code 301.001): Jan 12. It may run 140 days (Tex. Const. art. III, sec. 24(b)): May 31. A law takes effect 90 days after adjournment unless two-thirds of each house’s full membership votes otherwise (art. III, sec. 39): Aug 30. Most bills write Sep 1, the start of the fiscal year (Legislative Council drafting manual). With the two-thirds vote a law starts on signature, as HB 4211 did on Jun 20, 2025.
A Texas rental? The issue carries the old rule, every other week, and says All clear until a law is signed.