county court registry, as applicable, by the date prescribed by Subdivision (3) may result in the justice court or county court issuing a writ of possession without a hearing.
(a-2) The tenant shall:
(1) not later than the fifth day after the date the tenant files the appeal, pay rent for one rental pay period into the justice court registry; and
(2) on or before the beginning of each rental pay period during the pendency of the appeal, pay rent for one rental pay period into the justice court or county court registry, as applicable, according to the court in which the case is pending at the time of payment.
(a-3) The justice court or county court, as applicable, shall disburse rent paid into the justice court or county court registry to the landlord on request at any time during or after the pendency of the appeal.
(a-4) Repealed by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 960 (S.B. 38), Sec. 15(2), eff. January 1, 2026.
(a-5) A tenant's payment of rent into a court registry under this section relieves the tenant of the obligation to pay rent to the landlord only for the rental pay period for which the payment is made.
(b) If a government agency is responsible for all or a portion of the rent under an agreement with the landlord, the tenant shall pay only that portion of the rent determined by the justice court under Subsection (a) to be paid by the tenant during appeal, subject to either party's right to contest that determination under Subsection (c).
(c) If the tenant's rent during the rental agreement term has been paid wholly or partly by a government agency, either party may contest the portion of the rent that the justice court determines must be paid into the county court registry by the tenant under this section. The contest must be filed on or before the fifth day