Tex. Prop. Code Ann. §§ 301.001–301.171 § 301.151
CIVIL ACTION.
Operative Text
Sec. 301.151. CIVIL ACTION. (a) An aggrieved person may file a civil action in district court not later than the second year after the date of the occurrence or the termination of an alleged discriminatory housing practice or the breach of a conciliation agreement entered under this chapter, whichever occurs last, to obtain appropriate relief with respect to the discriminatory housing practice or breach.(b) The two-year period does not include any time during which an administrative hearing under this chapter is pending with respect to a complaint or charge under this chapter based on the discriminatory housing practice. This subsection does not apply to actions arising from the breach of a conciliation agreement.(c) An aggrieved person may file an action whether a complaint has been filed under Section 301.081 and without regard to the status of any complaint filed under that section.(d) If the commission has obtained a conciliation agreement with the consent of an aggrieved person, the aggrieved person may not file an action with respect to the alleged discriminatory housing practice that forms the basis of the complaint except to enforce the terms of the agreement.(e) An aggrieved person may not file an action with respect to an alleged discriminatory housing practice that forms the basis of a charge issued by the commission if the commission has begun a hearing on the record under this chapter with respect to the charge. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 40, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.
Texas Property Code § 301.151 establishes the right of a person harmed by a discriminatory housing practice to bring a civil lawsuit in district court. The filing window is generally two years from the date the discriminatory act occurred or ended, or from the breach of a conciliation agreement—whichever is latest. Time spent in an active administrative hearing is paused and does not count against that two-year clock, though that pause does not apply to conciliation-agreement breach claims. Certain procedural postures—such as an existing conciliation agreement or a commission-initiated hearing already underway—can limit or eliminate the ability to file a separate civil action.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 301.151, a property owner or manager facing a fair housing complaint should be aware that an aggrieved party retains the right to pursue a civil lawsuit in district court independently of any administrative complaint process. Operators who enter into a conciliation agreement through the commission generally resolve the civil exposure tied to that specific complaint, but only so long as the agreement's terms are honored—a breach reopens the door to litigation. Compliance-minded operators typically document all housing decisions, maintain consistent policies, and treat conciliation agreements as binding obligations to reduce the risk of subsequent civil action.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 301.151 gives individuals who believe they have experienced discriminatory housing practices the right to file a civil lawsuit in Texas district court, generally within two years of the discriminatory act or its end. If an administrative complaint or hearing is already pending under this chapter, that time may be paused, giving complainants additional runway in some circumstances. Tenants exploring their options may consider contacting a tenant-rights organization or a fair housing agency to understand how the administrative and civil pathways interact before the filing window closes.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation