State coverage — depth state

Texas — Rules Tracker

SB 1968 made the written buyer agreement Texas law, not just an MLS rule. TREC promulgated forms, Texas REALTORS forms, HAR and NTREIS rules, and the REALM Portal's licensing and CE processes. Every entry is primary-sourced and carries its last-checked date: Nov 8, 2026 (Tracker v1). This page is the Texas slice of the full Tracker.

In force nowTexas rules, verified

TexasJan 1, 2026

TX-01 Written agreement required for residential buyers by state law (SB 1968; TRELA §§ 1101.562–1101.563)

Compensation & buyer agreements / state law · Applies to: License holders working with prospective buyers of residential real property in Texas (not commercial purchasers or tenants)

Texas law — not only an MLS or NAR rule — requires a written agreement with a prospective residential buyer before showing any residential property or, if no showing will occur, before presenting an offer. The agreement may be a representation agreement or a non-representation showing-only agreement, and must state the services, termination date, exclusivity, whether the buyer is represented, the amount or rate of compensation and how it is determined, and in conspicuous language that broker compensation is not set by law and is fully negotiable. Subagency references were removed from TRELA.

Effective: January 1, 2026 (in force)

Source: https://www.trec.texas.gov/article/what-changes-2026-about-buyertenant-representation-texas · Last checked: Nov 8, 2026 · Change log: CL-12

TexasJan 5, 2026

TX-02 TXR 1501 Buyer/Tenant Representation Agreement, January 2026 revision

Forms in force · Applies to: Texas REALTORS® members representing buyers or tenants

The January 2026 revision of the exclusive buyer/tenant representation form removed "Residential" from the title so it can be used in more transaction types, added an optional retainer payable to the broker, added a definition of "related party," and added an informational notice about SB 17 and certain foreign acquisitions of real property.

Effective: Revision date January 5, 2026 (in force; superseded in part by TX-03)

Source: https://www.texasrealestate.com/magazine/january-february-2026/new-and-revised-forms-available-now · Last checked: Nov 8, 2026 · Change log: CL-13

TexasJun 15, 2026

TX-03 TXR 1501 Spring 2026 update

Forms in force · Applies to: Texas REALTORS® members using TXR 1501

A further revision added a Paragraph 3C statement that Market Area should be completed and not left blank, and Paragraph 6 language clarifying that attending an open house or showing without the broker does not violate the client's obligations. Paragraph 7C (Source of Compensation) was reworded, 7D renumbered, and 7E removed following the removal of broker-to-broker compensation from the residential listing agreement.

Effective: June 15, 2026 (in force; current version)

Source: https://public.texasrealestate.com/640422/2026.4.28+Forms+Update+Deck+PDF+FINAL.pdf · Last checked: Nov 8, 2026 · Change log: CL-14

TexasJul 1, 2026

TX-04 TREC One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale) is now Form 20-19

Forms in force · Applies to: Texas license holders on resale of a single-family home, duplex, triplex or fourplex (not condominiums, builder new homes, or farm and ranch)

The current promulgated form is 20-19, not 20-17. TREC's contracts index lists 20-19 with an effective date of July 1, 2026, and the adopted forms became mandatory on that date. Any checklist or template still citing 20-17 as current is out of date.

Effective: July 1, 2026 (mandatory use from this date; voluntary use once posted before it)

Source: https://www.trec.texas.gov/forms/one-four-family-residential-contract-resale · Last checked: Nov 8, 2026 · Change log: CL-15

TexasPipeline — not in force

TX-05 PIPELINE: Broker-Lawyer Committee October 9, 2026 review (not law, not adopted)

Forms in force — pipeline watch · Applies to: Future revisions of TREC promulgated contract forms

The BLC directed work on consistent notice-delivery language across forms, a drafted "time is of the essence" clause, a revised first sentence of Paragraph 7A (seller access after the buyer pays any required option fee under Paragraph 5A), team-leader identification in Broker Contact Information, and revised Paragraph 3B of the Seller's Disclosure (groundwater/surface water). Nothing in this item is in force; current promulgated forms still control.

Effective: No effective date; next BLC meeting January 15, 2027

Source: https://www.trec.texas.gov/article/blc-reviews-contract-forms-notice-requirements-and-deadlines · Last checked: Nov 8, 2026 · Change log: CL-16

TexasRules dated Jun 8, 2026

TX-06 HAR MLS Rules § 1.01 Clear Cooperation + § 1.3 Multiple Listing Options (June 8, 2026 rules)

MLS policy · Applies to: HRIS / HAR MLS Participants (Houston)

§ 1.01 Clear Cooperation: within one business day of marketing a property to the public, the listing broker must submit the listing to the MLS for cooperation; public marketing includes window flyers, yard signs, public-facing digital marketing, brokerage website displays (IDX/VOW), email blasts, multi-brokerage sharing networks, and public applications. New § 1.3 Multiple Listing Options for Sellers: HAR implements NAR's policy (NAT-08) with Office Exclusive and Delayed Marketing options plus an Exempt Listing Disclosure, documented on HAR Form 300 "Seller Options for Limited Marketing," signed by the seller. Second-pass update recorded at CL-67.

Source: https://content.harstatic.com/mls/pdf/MLSRules.pdf - **Monitoring status: PERIODIC CAPTURE** (CL-67, partially superseding CL-54 for HAR only) — a current rules PDF is publicly posted on HAR's own CDN, so HAR rules can be re-captured on a schedule; this is still not a continuous monitoring feed. NTREIS, Miami MLS and BeachesMLS remain HELD.) · Last checked: Nov 8, 2026 · Change log: CL-17, CL-67

TexasNov 1, 2026

TX-07 NTREIS data quality rule updates (listing entry, non-exclusive, auction, AI images)

MLS policy · Applies to: NTREIS subscribers, North Texas

Listings and updates must be entered within 3 business days, replacing the old 72-hour rule (weekends and federal holidays do not count). Non-exclusive listings are now accepted for MLS entry if other requirements are met; a new Auction Listing field carries required disclosures; AI-generated or virtually altered images require disclosure in both the photo description and the property description plus upload of the unaltered original. The full reorganized NTREIS Rules will be published as a preview in January 2027 and take effect February 1, 2027.

Effective: November 1, 2026 (in force); education period through January 31, 2027; fines for everyday misses begin February 1, 2027

Source: https://ntreis.net/dataquality/ - **Monitoring status: HELD** (CL-54) — this entry is a one-time capture from NTREIS's public data-quality page. NTREIS has no confirmed public rules surface for ongoing monitoring; do not claim direct MLS monitoring for NTREIS. Ongoing North Texas coverage runs via association output only. (The January 2027 rules-rewrite preview and Feb 1, 2027 effective date in this entry are therefore watch items to re-capture via association output, not a monitored feed.) · Last checked: Nov 8, 2026 · Change log: CL-18, CL-54

TexasOct 6, 2026

TX-08 Unlock MLS publishes the Compass demand letter to subscribers (contested)

MLS policy (contested) · Applies to: Unlock MLS subscribers, Central Texas

Effective: October 6, 2026 (Unlock News listing date) - Rule (narrow, as primary-verified): Unlock MLS's own News index records that on October 6, 2026 it sent subscribers a message titled "A Demand Letter from Compass, Inc., and What it Means for our Marketplace," and Unlock hosts Compass's September 8, 2026 demand letter, which demanded written confirmation by October 6 that Unlock would not fine or punish agents for publicly marketing office exclusive listings. Unlock's own response wording could not be opened on its primary page in this pass — the "rejection/defiance" framing could not be primary-verified, so this entry stays narrow until the article text is obtained.

Source: https://www.unlockmls.com/news · Last checked: Nov 8, 2026 · Change log: CL-19

TexasOct 1, 2026

TX-09 REALM pre-licensing process for education providers

Licensing & CE · Applies to: Texas sales agent and out-of-state broker applicants without a TREC license number, and their TREC-approved qualifying education providers

Before starting pre-licensing education, a student with no TREC license number must register for a REALM Portal account and receive a pre-license education application number by email. The student gives that number, not a license application, to the education provider, completes all required education, and only then returns to REALM to apply for a license and upload completion documents.

Effective: Published October 1, 2026 (in force)

Source: https://www.trec.texas.gov/article/realm-portal-pre-licensing-process-education-providers-0 · Last checked: Nov 8, 2026 · Change log: CL-20

TexasNov 3, 2026

TX-10 REALM 60-day CE extension at renewal ($200)

Licensing & CE · Applies to: Texas sales agents (except in their first renewal period) and brokers renewing in active status

If CE is not complete at renewal, the licensee may pay a nonrefundable $200 fee inside the renewal application in the REALM Portal to stay active for 60 more days past expiration to finish CE. The choice must be made during renewal, before submitting — answer No to "Have you completed your CE hours for renewal?" and Yes to the extension question — and cannot be added after submission; first-renewal SAE cannot be deferred. If CE is still unfinished after 60 days the license goes inactive, and a broker going inactive also inactivates sponsored agents.

Effective: Published November 3, 2026 (in force)

Source: https://www.trec.texas.gov/article/need-more-time-complete-ce-renew-here%E2%80%99s-what-do · Last checked: Nov 8, 2026 · Change log: CL-21

TexasIn force

TX-11 License renewal: 18 hours of CE per two-year period

Licensing & CE · Applies to: Texas sales agents and brokers renewing after the first renewal period (first-time sales agent renewers are under SAE instead)

License holders must complete 18 hours of continuing education during each two-year license period: Legal Update I (4 hours), Legal Update II (4 hours), contract-related coursework (3 hours), and elective CE (7 hours). Renewal opens at least 90 days before expiration or when TREC emails the renewal notice, and is submitted in the REALM Portal.

Effective: In force (TREC current renewal guidance)

Source: https://www.trec.texas.gov/i-am-renewing-my-license-how-do-i-know-how-many-classes-i-need-take-renewal · Last checked: Nov 8, 2026 · Change log: CL-22

TexasJan 1, 2026

TX-12 Broker Responsibility Course now required for all brokers (SB 1968)

Licensing & CE · Applies to: All Texas broker applicants, all brokers applying to renew, and delegated supervisors

Every broker applicant and every broker renewing on or after January 1, 2026 must complete the six-hour Broker Responsibility Course, regardless of whether the broker sponsors or supervises sales agents (it counts within the 18 hours of CE). The same SB 1968 package raised experience points for broker licensure from 360 to 720 and capped a bachelor's degree at 300 hours toward education requirements.