Governor Rick Perry of Texas sign a bill on Friday that modernizes the state’s 30 year-old self storage lien law. The Texas Self Storage Association ( TSSA) actively participated in this year’s legislative session to support changes to the Chapter 59 foreclosure process affecting self-storage operators in Texas.
The new law, that becomes effective January 1, will:
- Allow the use of verified mail or e-mail instead of the currently required Certified Mail to send the required foreclosure seizure/claim notice.
- Require specific notice to military customers asking them to identify themselves as active duty, thereby providing additional safeguards for service members.
- Incorporate special foreclosure processes for vehicles and boats into Chapter 59 instead of the current separate section of the property code subject to changes intended for mechanics liens.
John Carona, Senator and chairman of the Senate Business and Commerce Committee, filed Senate Bill 690. Sid Gill, State Representative also filed an identical companion bill in the House, House Bill 1259. Both of these men worked with TSSA to ensure passage of the bill, with some amendments along the way.
In more than 15 years this is the first time that the TSSA has actively participated into the legislative fray to lobby for a specific bill. The TSSA reported in a press release that the process of this bill had gone relatively smooth.