Fair housing practices in the State of Texas, including the consideration of criminal history in rental decisions

Texas House Bill 4151, introduced by Representative Ron Reynolds, aims to reform fair housing practices in Texas by regulating how landlords consider criminal history in rental decisions. The bill requires landlords to provide applicants with written notice of tenant selection criteria, including grounds for potential application denial. It mandates that landlords allow applicants to present evidence of inaccuracies in their criminal history, previous rental history, current income, or credit history. Additionally, the bill restricts landlords from considering criminal convictions to those related to specific serious sexual offenses under the Texas Penal Code, unless federal law mandates denial based on certain criminal histories. The bill also outlines penalties for landlords who fail to comply with these provisions. ([legiscan.com](https://legiscan.com/TX/text/HB4151/id/3161871?utm_source=openai))

The bill has been analyzed by organizations such as the Texas Policy Research Institute, which highlights its potential to improve housing access for individuals with criminal records by limiting the types of convictions landlords can consider. ([texaspolicyresearch.com](https://www.texaspolicyresearch.com/bills/89th-legislature-hb-4151/?utm_source=openai)) Similarly, PoliScore predicts that the bill would significantly enhance societal well-being by promoting fair housing practices and supporting individuals seeking to rebuild their lives post-conviction. ([poliscore.us](https://poliscore.us/2026/tx/bill/2160/hb/4151?utm_source=openai))

As of now, there is no significant media coverage or public commentary expressing opposition to the bill. The absence of such coverage may indicate a lack of widespread concern or controversy regarding the proposed changes to housing practices in Texas.