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San Marcos adopts ordinance recognizing tenants’ right to organize; debate over property-manager liability fails
Summary
The San Marcos City Council adopted Ordinance 2025-43 on Oct. 8, 2025, adding a city code article to recognize tenants’ right to organize and establish penalties for violations. Council rejected an amendment to remove property managers from criminal liability and voted 7-0 to pass the ordinance on first reading.
The San Marcos City Council on Oct. 8 adopted Ordinance 2025-43 on first reading to add a new Article 4 to Chapter 46 of the San Marcos City Code formally recognizing tenants’ right to organize and establishing penalties for violations.
The ordinance, introduced by Council Member Mary Rodriguez and seconded by Council Member Garza, drew public comment from landlords’ and tenants’ advocates and about 40 minutes of council discussion focused on enforcement language that would apply to property managers and other agents.
Supporters said the ordinance fills gaps they view in state protections. Maxfield Baker of the San Marcos Civics Club said the draft “provides many more protections than state law currently does.” Public commenter Hannah Garcia, speaking for the Austin…
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