Bowie County Texas Landlord-Tenant Law: Six Courts on the State Line, the Red River Army Depot, and the ArkLaTex Rental Market
Bowie County sits at the intersection of Texas, Arkansas, and the broader ArkLaTex region that encompasses parts of Louisiana and Oklahoma as well. Its commercial center, Texarkana, is one of the few American cities that physically occupies two states simultaneously, with the city’s main street — State Line Avenue — serving as the literal border between Texas and Arkansas. For landlords, this geography creates an unusual set of procedural considerations: Bowie County operates six JP courts across five precincts, with the two Texarkana courts housed in the Bi-State Justice Building that straddles the state line itself. The county seat is not Texarkana but the smaller community of New Boston, 30 miles west, where the formal courthouse and Precinct 2 court are located. Understanding which court handles your property’s precinct is the first and most essential step in any Bowie County eviction.
Six Courts, Five Precincts: The Complete Bowie County JP Structure
Bowie County’s six JP courts reflect the county’s geographic spread across a predominantly rural landscape with one major urban center. Precinct 1 has two Places, both at the Bi-State Justice Building at 100 N. State Line Avenue in Texarkana. Place 1 is under Judge Nancy Talley (phone 903-798-3006); Place 2 is under Judge Jay Womack (phone 903-798-3038). These courts handle the bulk of Texarkana evictions. Precinct 2, under Judge Catie Hawkins, is at the Bowie County Courthouse at 710 James Bowie Drive in New Boston (phone 903-628-6812), serving New Boston, Wake Village, and central county. Precinct 3, under Judge Ellen Eubanks, is at 902 W. Front Street in De Kalb (phone 903-667-3891). Precinct 4, under Judge Mary Hankins, is located at 4844 US Hwy 67W in Simms (phone 903-543-2279), serving the rural south county including Red Lick and surrounding communities. Precinct 5, under Judge Susie Spellings, serves Maud, Hooks, and the southeast county near the Red River Army Depot corridor (P.O. Box 189, Maud TX; phone 903-585-5428).
The standard Texas wrong-precinct dismissal rule applies in full. Filing at the wrong Bowie County JP court — even at the right building but wrong Place in Precinct 1 — results in mandatory dismissal and requires refiling. Use the county’s precinct map at co.bowie.tx.us to confirm your precinct before every filing.
Red River Army Depot: Bowie County’s Economic Anchor
The Red River Army Depot is not just Bowie County’s largest employer — it is one of the most significant federal installations in the entire southwest. Located 18 miles west of Texarkana on 15,375 acres with over 1,400 buildings and 8 million square feet of facilities, RRAD employs between 3,200 and 3,500 workers directly and generates an estimated $1.6 billion in annual economic impact across the ArkLaTex region. The facility was established in 1941 and today serves as the Army’s Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for Tactical Wheeled Vehicles, remanufacturing Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles and maintaining ground combat systems for U.S. and allied forces. As of early 2025, the city of Texarkana, Bowie County, and surrounding municipalities have all passed resolutions urging Congress to protect RRAD’s mission amid federal discussions about potential workload reductions — a sign of just how central the depot is to the regional economy.
For landlords, RRAD creates a tenant segment of stable federal civilian employees and government contractors. Approximately 75% of RRAD’s workforce — roughly 2,600 employees — live in Texas, and a significant portion are in Bowie County. These are not active-duty military personnel. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) does not apply to federal civilian employees; SCRA applies only to active-duty service members and in some cases their dependents. Landlords should verify each tenant’s actual military status individually rather than assuming SCRA protections based on RRAD employment. The practical result is a tenant segment with stable federal employment, verifiable income, and strong economic incentives to maintain their housing stability.
Texarkana: The Cross-State Rental Market
Texarkana’s dual-state character creates a cross-state rental market that is unusual for a city of its size. The Texas side (Bowie County) and the Arkansas side (Miller County, AR) operate under entirely different landlord-tenant law frameworks. Arkansas has different eviction notice requirements, different security deposit rules, and a different court system. A landlord with a portfolio that spans both states must maintain entirely separate procedures for each side. Texas properties must be evicted in Texas courts under Texas law; Arkansas properties in Arkansas courts under Arkansas law. The Bi-State Justice Building in Texarkana houses the Texas JP courts (Precinct 1, Places 1 and 2) — the building sits on the state line, but the courts inside apply Texas law to Texas properties exclusively.
Average one-bedroom rents on the Texas side run approximately $835–$844/month, about 46% below the national average, with 3.3% year-over-year growth. This affordability, combined with the stable federal employment base from RRAD and CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System, creates a market with consistent tenant demand and relatively stable occupancy rates. CHRISTUS St. Michael, the area’s primary hospital, and Texarkana College add healthcare workers and students to the tenant pool. TexAmericas Center, the industrial park developed on former BRAC surplus land adjacent to RRAD, is attracting manufacturing and distribution tenants to the county’s western area.
Security Deposits and the January 2026 Law Changes
Texas Property Code § 92.103 requires the return of the security deposit within 30 days of the tenant surrendering the property, with an itemized written accounting of any deductions. The bad-faith penalty — $100 plus three times the wrongfully withheld amount plus attorney’s fees — applies throughout Bowie County. At Texarkana’s average rent of $840/month, a typical one-month deposit creates bad-faith exposure of approximately $2,620 before legal fees. Document all deductions with photographs and certified mail, and send the accounting within 30 days of surrender. Major changes to Texas eviction law took effect January 1, 2026, under SB 38. Confirm current notice language and forms with the appropriate Bowie County JP court before initiating any eviction after that date.
This page covers Texas (Bowie County) landlord-tenant law only. Arkansas properties in Texarkana are governed by Arkansas law and require filing in Miller County, AR courts. Verify your precinct at co.bowie.tx.us before filing; wrong-precinct filings will be dismissed. RRAD employees are federal civilians — SCRA does not automatically apply; verify active-duty status individually. Major changes to Texas eviction law (SB 38) took effect January 1, 2026. Consult a licensed Texas attorney for specific guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
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