The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) convened on August 11, marking the first meeting chaired by Mark Woodroof of Houston. The session also introduced new broker members Kristi Davis of Carrollton and J.B. Goodwin of Austin.
During the meeting, Ben Peña was nominated as vice chair, joining Chair Mark Woodroof and Secretary Chance Brown on the TREC Executive Committee. Chair Woodroof appointed members to several committees: Ben Peña will lead the Enforcement Committee with Stuart Bernstein and Renee Harvey Lowe; Woodroof himself will chair the Budget Committee alongside J.B. Goodwin and Bernstein; Peña will also head the TREC and TALCB Joint Audit Committee with Goodwin. TALCB Chair Chance Bolton serves on this audit committee as well.
Other liaison appointments include Leslie Lerner to the Texas Real Estate Inspector Committee, Kristi Davis to the Education Standards Advisory Committee, Chance Brown and Leslie Lerner to the Broker Responsibility Advisory Committee, Renee Harvey Lowe to the Texas Real Estate Broker-Lawyer Committee, and Kristi Davis as ex-officio to the Texas A&M University Texas Real Estate Research Center Advisory Committee.
Ron Walker was reappointed as a broker member of the Broker-Lawyer Committee (BLC), with Kandi Luensmann named as a broker member and Marcus Phipps as an alternate. Outgoing BLC members SJ Swanson, Leigh York, and Aimee Slusher were recognized for their twelve years of service.
Executive Director Chelsea Buchholtz presented an update on the upcoming Real Estate and Appraiser License Management (REALM) Portal. This online system aims to replace paper forms and checks for agency interactions. License holders are advised to consider renewing early in the current system while updates are available at trec.texas.gov/lms and through TREC Advisor at trec.texas.gov/newsletters.
Most rule changes adopted at this meeting relate to implementing this new license management system or stem from quadrennial rule review required by state law. These reviews ensure rules remain necessary or are updated appropriately. One amendment clarifies that when submitting online payments, a fee mandated by the Texas Department of Information Resources may be collected regardless of payment method.
The Commission adopted changes allowing student identity verification using various technologies for qualifying course exams while removing mandatory proctoring requirements—though proctors may still be used if preferred—and eliminating closed-book exam mandates. Similar adjustments apply to inspector non-elective continuing education course exams delivered via distance education.
Several proposed rule changes are now open for public comment through TREC’s online tool before potential adoption at its November meeting. Recommendations from advisory committees and recent legislative actions prompted these proposals:
– The Broker Responsibility Advisory Committee suggested revising broker licensing requirements: up to 300 hours of real estate education could substitute for experience points above minimum requirements; experience points needed would double from 360 to 720; bachelor’s degree credit would be capped at 300 hours; property management experience would be calculated per property per year; brokerage management calculations would shift to a points-per-transaction model.
– Changes proposed for brokerage forms reflect Senate Bill 1968 (effective January 1, 2026), which introduces non-representation status and written agreement requirements into The Real Estate License Act (TRELA). Subagency references have been removed in line with TRELA revisions.
– Updates following Senate Bill 2349 exempt temporary residential leases from landlord flooding notice obligations starting September 1, 2025.
– In response to Sunset Commission direction after a limited-scope review, BLC drafted a new Water Notice form requiring sellers’ disclosure about groundwater and surface water rights.
– Additional proposed revisions affect Seller’s Disclosure Notices—adding items such as conservation easements, insurance disclosures, storage tanks—and clarify contract language across multiple forms.
Senate Bill 1968 brings further regulatory changes effective January 1, 2026:
– Brokers and sales agents must provide business addresses/phone numbers for public display on TREC’s website; P.O. Boxes or brokerage addresses can be used.
– All brokers applying or renewing after January 1 must complete a Broker Responsibility Course during each renewal period.
– Associated brokers must inform TREC about their affiliations; brokers can confirm but it is primarily up to associated brokers to keep information updated.
– When complaints are filed against associated brokers, only notification—not complaint details—is sent to brokers; they are responsible for obtaining more information directly from those involved.
Materials from this meeting—including agendas and recordings—are available online ahead of TREC’s next scheduled session on November 3, 2025.
