The Texas Real Estate Inspector Committee (TREIC) convened on October 13 at the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) headquarters in Austin. The committee addressed several topics, including proposed updates to inspection standards, changes to prelicensure education requirements, and discussions on license reciprocity.
The Standards of Practice (SOP) Subcommittee presented its initial draft of proposed SOP changes after nearly two years of review. While most adjustments were minor, a significant proposal involved moving three sections from the appliance section to the HVAC section in inspection reports. The rationale was that these systems are more closely related to ventilation. However, concerns were raised about potential confusion for consumers and other issues with the new format. As a result, both the SOPs and the Property Inspection Report Form were sent back to the subcommittee for further consideration.
Another notable proposal would require inspectors to keep inspection reports readily available for at least four years after an inspection is completed. This measure is intended to align report availability with the statute of limitations for filing complaints.
The first set of actual proposed SOP changes, which may include a revised report form, is expected to be recommended for proposal at the January 20, 2026 TREIC meeting. “I would encourage all stakeholders to get involved with this process sooner rather than later. The SOP Subcommittee meetings can be attended by all interested parties online,” said Lee Warren, TREIC Chair.
If these recommendations move forward in January, they will be sent to TREC commissioners for consideration at their February meeting. The commission can either return them for further review or propose them as presented. Public feedback will be solicited before any final adoption, and May 2026 is projected as the earliest possible date for implementation of new SOP changes.
The committee also approved a recommendation regarding prelicensure education requirements. Currently, there is no rule specifying when students should complete the 40-hour Texas Practicum component of their training. To address rare cases where students begin their practicum before finishing necessary coursework, TREIC recommends requiring completion of all required courses prior to starting the practicum. This change will be considered by TREC at its November meeting and will be open for public comment if proposed.
Discussions also took place regarding license reciprocity between Texas and other states. Licensing Division staff noted that such requests are infrequent and evaluated individually based on factors such as licensure requirements in other states and whether applicants have passed national exams.
At this meeting, Lee Warren marked his final session as a member of TREIC after 13 years of service. “I wanted to take a moment to thank the TREC Commissioners, past and present, and TREC staff for the hard work that they have all put in over the years… I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve over the last 13 years, and I will continue to be involved in the industry for years to come,” he stated.
Materials from this meeting are available for download along with a recording. The next TREIC meeting is scheduled for January 20, 2026 and will be accessible both in person and via livestream.
