The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) convened on February 9, 2026, to elect new officers, appoint committee members, propose contract form updates, and discuss the agency’s updated online license management system.
Commissioner Chance Brown was elected vice chair and Commissioner Kristi Davis as secretary. Commissioner Ben Peña was appointed to serve as ex officio on the Executive Committee. Chair Mark Woodroof announced additional committee appointments, including enforcement, budget, joint audit with the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB), and various liaison roles with internal committees.
The Commission introduced proposed amendments and new rules to 22 TAC Chapter 537 in the Texas Register for public comment. The suggested changes were developed by the Broker-Lawyer Committee and would update several standard contract forms. Proposed revisions include adding “generators” to property improvement lists due to their increased use in homes; providing a definition of “Legal Holiday”; introducing a paragraph about water rights along with a new Water Notice: Seller’s Disclosure About Groundwater and Surface Water Rights based on Sunset Advisory Commission recommendations; updating seller disclosure requirements regarding insurance information, windstorm coverage, private road maintenance responsibilities, large above-ground storage tanks, and conservation easements; reorganizing compensation-related sections; incorporating language required by federal Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) reporting standards; clarifying notice delivery methods; reorganizing addenda categories for usability; and creating a new form notifying buyers of contingency removal under back-up contracts.
During the meeting, Executive Director Chelsea Buchholtz gave an update on TREC’s Real Estate and Appraiser License Management (REALM) Portal. This system launched in late 2025 to replace an older platform that no longer met statutory or regulatory needs. Instructions for using REALM are available at trec.texas.gov/lms.
The commission also adopted two rule changes: Rule 533.11 addresses temporary suspension procedures when a license holder is deemed a risk to public welfare; Rule 535.214 clarifies that qualifying education must be completed before starting the Texas practicum.
Instructor training makeup sessions for Legal Update I & II and Broker Responsibility will be held March 4–5 in Austin.
Future meetings are scheduled for May 4 in Houston as well as August 10 and November 9 in Austin.
“Commissioner Chance Brown was elected as vice chair and Commissioner Kristi Davis as secretary.”
