Legislative Session Ends With REALTOR® Wins
The regular session of the 87th Texas Legislature ended May 31 with several REALTOR® victories on behalf of Texas real estate consumers and private property rights. Thanks to your support, the following REALTOR®-supported bills are moving on to the governor’s desk to be signed into law (as of June 1, 2021):
HOA Reform: Senate Bill 1588 (authored by Sen. Bryan Hughes and sponsored by Rep. Chris Turner) makes several pro-homeowner reforms, including a cap on resale certificate fees, increased transparency in HOA management, and better due process to resolve disputes.
Removing Discriminatory Covenants from Deeds: Senate Bill 30 (authored by Sen. Royce West and sponsored by Rep. Jeff Leach) provides property owners a way to remove discriminatory covenants from their real estate deeds via the county clerk’s office.
Increasing Broadband Access: House Bill 5 (authored by Rep. Trent Ashby and sponsored by Sen. Robert Nichols) provides resources to expand access to broadband internet in eligible areas of the state.
Civil Liability Reform: Senate Bill 6 (authored by Sen. Kelly Hancock and sponsored by Rep. Jeff Leach) ensures that small business owners, like REALTORS®, can continue to provide their essential services during times of crisis with protections from certain claims.
Eminent Domain Reform: House Bill 2730 (authored by Rep. Joe Deshotel and sponsored by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst) makes the eminent domain process more fair and helps make property owners more aware of their rights when an entity with eminent domain authority seeks to acquire their property.
Your Voice was Heard
These victories are thanks to your grassroots engagement, meetings with legislators during virtual REALTOR® Day at the Texas Capitol, and your timely response to a call for action. Look for more info about REALTOR® wins in the legislative session in the July issue of Texas REALTOR® magazine.
Source: Texas REALTORS®