Texas Legislature Passes Bill Allowing Condo Owners To Affix Mezuzahs To Door Frames

Last week the Texas Legislature passed and sent to the governor for his signature H.B. 1278 which bars condominium property owners' associations from adopting restrictive covenants that would prevent Jewish property owners or residents from placing a mezuzah on the door of their home. The law is limited to religious items whose display is motivated by the owner's or resident's sincere religious beliefs that are placed on the entry door or door frame and which are not over 25 square inches in size. The law allows condo associations to ban  and remove items that contain language or graphics that are patently offensive to a passer-by or which threaten public health or safety. A press release from Chabad on the bill's passage says that it is unclear whether or not Gov. Rick Perry will sign the bill into law.