HB 5509

H.B. No. 5509
  AN ACT
  relating to the suspension or revocation of a hotel's certificate
  of occupancy by a municipality for suspected human trafficking.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 215, Local Government
  Code, is amended by adding Section 215.007 to read as follows:
         Sec. 215.007.  SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF HOTEL CERTIFICATE
  OF OCCUPANCY.  (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Hotel" has the meaning assigned by Section
  156.001, Tax Code.
               (2)  "Human trafficking activity" means conduct that
  constitutes an offense under Section 20A.02 or 20A.03, Penal Code.
         (b)  The governing body of a municipality may suspend or
  revoke a certificate of occupancy for a hotel located in the
  municipality if:
               (1)  a law enforcement officer provides an affidavit of
  probable cause swearing that criminal human trafficking activity is
  occurring in the hotel;
               (2)  a court with criminal jurisdiction in the county
  in which the hotel is located issues an order stating the court's
  finding of probable cause that human trafficking activity is
  occurring at the hotel; and
               (3)  the municipality follows the procedures described
  by Subsection (d) before suspending or revoking the certificate of
  occupancy.
         (c)  This section does not limit a hotel owner's or
  operator's right to a public hearing and to present evidence at a
  proceeding regarding the suspension or revocation of a certificate
  of occupancy.
         (d)  A municipality that seeks to suspend or revoke a
  certificate of occupancy for a hotel under this section shall
  follow procedures that are consistent with the suspension or
  revocation of a certificate of occupancy for any other type of
  business or use of land within the municipality.
         (e)  This section may not be construed to create a private
  cause of action.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
  ______________________________
  ______________________________
     President of the Senate
  Speaker of the House     
         I certify that H.B. No. 5509 was passed by the House on May
  16, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 118, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 5509 on May 30, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 120, Nays 16,
  2 present, not voting.
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
         I certify that H.B. No. 5509 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 28, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
  0.
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
           __________________
                Governor