Take Notice, New Laws Take Effect

From tanning beds to taxes and taco trucks to tenants, there are several new laws that are going into effect on New Year's Day in Texas.

Several of the new laws will change the appraisal process for property taxpayers in an attempt to make the process more uniform throughout Texas and give property owners more power to appeal tax valuations, as well as ensuring that appraisers consider all comparable property values in their appraisals, including properties sold at foreclosure or with decreased value.

There are also new protections for Texas renters.  A new law will help renters get repairs completed by their landlords in an affordable and timely manner.  Another law allows tenants to leave and avoid lease liability if certain sex crimes or domestic violence occurs on the premises.  Also, landlords will be required to install hearing-impaired smoke detectors if tenants request them.

Other laws aim to protect the health of younger Texans, including a new law that requires all students to provide proof that they have been vaccinated against bacterial meningitis before they can live on a college campus.  Another law will require minors to be accompanied by an adult to tanning salons in order to use tanning beds.

Several laws aim to improve standards for the goods that Texans use.  Mobile food units such as taco trucks will be required beginning January 1 to obtain a time and date stamp indicating that the unit has been serviced that day.  A new law will require minimum standards for fuel sold in Texas, and establishes guidelines for testing.

A complete list of the bills taking effect on January 1, 2010 is available at the Texas Legislature's website.