The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) convened on February 9, 2026, to elect new officers, make committee appointments, propose contract form updates, and discuss the agency’s recently launched online license management system.
During the meeting, Commissioner Chance Brown was elected vice chair and Commissioner Kristi Davis was named secretary. Commissioner Ben Peña received an appointment as ex officio member of the Executive Committee.
Chair Mark Woodroof announced several committee assignments. Commissioner Peña will chair both the Enforcement Committee and the TREC and TALCB Joint Audit Committee. Other members appointed to these committees include Commissioners Renee Harvey Lowe, Leslie Lerner, JB Goodwin, Stuart Bernstein, Scott Olguin, and Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board Chair R. Chance Bolton. Additional liaison roles were assigned for various advisory committees such as Education Standards Advisory Committee (ESAC), Broker Responsibility Advisory Committee (BRAC), Broker-Lawyer Committee (BLC), and the Texas A&M Real Estate Research Center Advisory Committee.
The Commission proposed amendments to rules in 22 TAC Chapter 537 for public comment. These changes affect several standard contract forms based on recommendations from the Broker-Lawyer Committee. Updates include adding “generators” to improvements listed in contracts due to their increased use in residential properties; defining “Legal Holiday”; introducing a new paragraph about water rights along with a Water Notice: Seller’s Disclosure About Groundwater and Surface Water Rights; updating Seller’s Disclosure Notices with additional information regarding property insurance coverage types, private road maintenance responsibilities, above ground storage tanks exceeding 500 gallons, and conservation easements; reorganizing brokerage compensation practices within Paragraph 12; including language required by federal Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) regulations; clarifying notice delivery methods; reorganizing addenda categories for clarity; and creating a new form titled Seller’s Notice to Buyer of Removal of Contingency Under Addendum for “Back-Up” Contract.
A detailed update was provided by Executive Director Chelsea Buchholtz on the launch of TREC’s Real Estate and Appraiser License Management (REALM) Portal. The portal went live in late 2025 as a replacement for an outdated system that could no longer meet changing legal requirements. Guidance materials about using REALM are available at trec.texas.gov/lms.
Makeup sessions for Legal Update I & II as well as Broker Responsibility instructor training are scheduled for March 4-5 in Austin.
The Commission also adopted two rule changes: New Rule 533.11 outlines procedures for temporary suspension when a license holder may pose a threat to public welfare; amendments to Rule 535.214 clarify that qualifying education must be completed before starting the Texas practicum.
Information about meeting agendas, materials, and videos can be found at trec.texas.gov.
Future meetings are set for May 4 in Houston and August 10 and November 9 in Austin.
