The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) adopts new 22 TAC §531.1, Definitions; §531.2, Fidelity; §531.3, Integrity; §531.4, Competency; and amendments to §531.19, Discriminatory Practices and §531.20, Information About Brokerage Services, in Chapter 531, Canons of Professional Ethics and Conduct. Sections 531.2 - 531.4, 531.19, and 531.20 are adopted without changes to the text as published in the March 11, 2022, issue of the Texas Register (47 TexReg 1185). The rules will not be republished. Section 531.1 is adopted with one non-substantive change to the text (the insertion of the word "Texas" before "Occupations" in §531.1(2)) as published in the March 11, 2022, issue of the Texas Register. The rule will be republished.

The new rules and amendments to Chapter 531 are made as a result of the Commission's quadrennial rule review. The changes add a new definitions section for ease of reading and update terminology for consistency throughout the chapter. Importantly, the amendments to both 22 TAC §531.18, Consumer Information, and 22 TAC §531.20, Information About Brokerage Services, are not intended to change who must comply with these rules (i.e. , active real estate brokers and sales agents), but merely to use more consistent and concise language.

No comments were received on the proposed new rules and amendments as published.

The new rules and amendments are adopted under Texas Occupations Code, §1101.151, which authorizes the Texas Real Estate Commission to adopt and enforce rules necessary to administer Chapters 1101 and 1102; and to establish standards of conduct and ethics for its license holders to fulfill the purposes of Chapters 1101 and 1102 and ensure compliance with Chapters 1101 and 1102.