RealPage Reacts to Texas Governor Greg Abbott Signing Senate Bill 873 into Law
RICHARDSON, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–RealPage,
Inc. (NASDAQ:RP),
a leading global provider of software and data analytics to the real
estate industry, shares that Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed
Senate Bill 873 into law. The new law, which modifies the Texas water
code, will benefit apartment owners, operators and their residents
throughout the State of Texas.
Regulatory professionals at RealPage, Inc. worked closely with the Texas
Apartment Association to draft the legislation, provide testimony at
legislative hearings, and educate legislators on the benefits of the
bill. RealPage also engaged its own outside legislative and regulatory
counsel at Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP to complement the efforts of
the professionals at the TAA.
This law brings the Texas water code into line with other Texas statutes
that underwent tort reform over the last two decades. In recent years,
Texas apartment owners faced a deluge of lawsuits from lawyers who were
twisting well-established definitions and practices in utility billing
in an attempt to obtain the treasure-trove of exorbitant penalties
contained in the former code. The new law eliminates the unjust
incentives fueling this rampant lawsuit abuse and moves the regulation
of water billing under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Texas Public
Utility Commission which has the authority and experience to issue
judicious penalties reasonably related to the level and nature of a
violation. Residents will also benefit from a new streamlined online and
telephonic complaint and hearing system as well as clarity in
enforcement and interpretation of the law.
“RealPage sincerely thanks everyone who worked on this legislation and
we are grateful to the Senate and House bill authors, Senator Brandon
Creighton and Representative Jim Murphy, for their leadership and
commitment to preventing abuse of our legal system,” said David Monk,
EVP & Chief Legal Officer at RealPage. “We are pleased with the passage
of this legislation and believe that it will greatly aid apartment
owners and managers – and their residents.”
The legislation passed both the House and Senate with over a two-thirds
supermajority, and became effective immediately on June 1, 2017, the
date signed by Governor Abbott.
For more information about RealPage, please visit www.realpage.com.
About RealPage
RealPage is a leading global provider of software and data analytics to
the real estate industry. Clients use its platform to improve operating
performance and increase capital returns. Founded in 1998 and
headquartered in Richardson, Texas, RealPage currently serves over
11,200 clients worldwide from offices in North America, Europe and Asia.
For more information about the company, visit https://www.realpage.com.
Contacts
RealPage Media Relations
Lea Lashley, 972-820-4447
[email protected]