What Texas Agents Need to Know About 2026 TREC Updates

As a Texas real estate license holder, staying compliant with the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) is not just about renewing your license—it is about understanding the legislative and rule changes that reshape your daily professional obligations. The 2026 renewal cycle has introduced some of the most significant shifts in agency law and disclosure requirements seen in years.

To maintain an active license and stay on the right side of the law, you must complete specific continuing education (CE) credits, including the mandatory Legal Update I and Legal Update II courses. However, compliance goes beyond simply clocking hours; it requires adapting to new forms, written agreement mandates, and changes to the Standards of Practice for inspectors.

Here is a breakdown of the 2026 TREC legal update requirements and how to ensure you remain compliant.

The Mandatory Core: Legal Update I and II

Every active license holder is required to complete 18 hours of continuing education every two years. Within those 18 hours, 8 hours are strictly mandated by TREC and are broken down into two specific courses: Legal Update I (4 hours) and Legal Update II (4 hours).

• Legal Update I (Laws, Rules, and Forms): This course covers the changes to TREC rules, key legislative updates from the 89th Texas Legislative Session, updates to contract forms, and recent court cases affecting real estate.
• Legal Update II (Agency, Ethics, and Hot Topics): This course focuses on the Canons of Professional Ethics and Conduct, fiduciary duties, updates to the Information About Brokerage Services (IABS) form, advertising rules, and common enforcement issues.

The 2026–2027 cycle requires specific updated materials. TREC has already conducted instructor training for these cycles, meaning the coursework you take must reflect the laws effective January 1, 2026.

The "Hard Stop" Deadline

Your compliance deadline is tied to your specific license expiration date. Unlike a calendar year deadline, Texas real estate licenses expire on a staggered schedule based on the initial issuance date.

You must complete your 18 hours of CE—including the Legal Updates—by the last day of the month in which you were originally licensed. For example, if you were licensed on May 15, 2024, your renewal deadline is May 31, 2026. Failure to meet this deadline results in your license becoming inactive, which prohibits you from collecting commissions or practicing real estate.

Major Compliance Changes Effective 2026

The content of the 2026 Legal Update courses is heavily focused on new laws that went into effect on January 1, 2026. You are expected to be practicing in compliance with these rules before you take the exam. The most critical changes include:

1. Written Representation Required for Residential Buyers

The most significant change for sales agents involves Texas Occupations Code Section 1101.563. You may no longer show residential real estate to a prospective buyer without a written agreement in place.

• The Rule: Before showing a property or presenting an offer, you must have a signed written agreement with the buyer.
• Non-Representation (Showings Only): If a buyer does not want to enter a full representation agreement, you may use a "non-representation" agreement. However, this agreement is limited to a maximum of 14 days and must be non-exclusive. Under this status, you cannot provide advice or opinions; you can only provide factual information like size, price, and terms.

2. New IABS Form (IABS 1-2)

The Information About Brokerage Services form has been updated. The previous version is now obsolete. As of January 1, 2026, license holders must use IABS 1-2 to comply with the new notice requirements regarding representation and non-representation statuses.

3. Open House Logistics

If you host an open house for a listing that is not your own (or your brokerage’s), you are now required to provide the IABS form and enter into a written agreement with every visitor before they begin viewing the property. If a visitor refuses to sign the required agreement, they cannot legally tour the home.

4. Removal of Subagency References

Subagency references have been removed from TRELA. While subagency still exists as a legal concept, the practical circumstances in which it can occur have been severely limited by the new written agreement rules.

Compliance for Property Inspectors

If you hold an inspector license, the 2026 updates also affect your compliance requirements. The Texas Real Estate Inspector Committee (TREIC) has proposed and adopted changes to the Standards of Practice (SOPs).

Key updates you are required to know for the 2026 cycle include:

• Report Retention: You must maintain inspection reports for at least four years in a format readily available to TREC.
• Roof Inspections: Physical walking of the roof is required when safe; drones are not a substitute for a physical inspection when conditions permit safe walking.
• Safety Devices: Inspectors must report double-cylinder deadbolts on emergency escape windows as a deficiency, as well as carbon monoxide detector locations.
• Electrical Systems: New language clarifies the required unobstructed workspace dimensions around electrical panels.

How to Verify and Maintain Compliance

To ensure you meet the requirements, you should take the following steps:

Check your expiration date. Log into the Real Estate and Appraiser License Management (REALM) portal to verify your specific deadline. Do not rely on general calendar reminders.

Select approved providers. Ensure your CE provider is TREC-approved. While many online platforms offer the 18-hour packages, verify that the specific "Legal Update I" and "Legal Update II" courses are tagged for the 2026-2027 cycle, as older versions will not cover the new buyer representation laws.

Update your contact information. TREC cannot notify you of complaints or rule changes if your contact information is outdated. You are required to keep your business address and legal name current in the REALM system.

The 2026 requirements emphasize transparency and documentation. By completing your Legal Updates early and adopting the new written agreement practices immediately, you protect your clients and your license.

Looking for a simpler way to get your CE hours done? Check out: The Easier Way to Finish Texas Real Estate CE Online