The Texas Real Estate Commission’s (TREC) Broker-Lawyer Committee (BLC) met January 8–9, 2026, to continue its comprehensive review of the TREC contract forms. Here are some of the highlights.

Changes to Paragraph 12

BLC continued its discussion of broker compensation and recommended revisions to Paragraph 12. The revisions would reorganize Paragraph 12A(1) and add a new Paragraph 12B related to brokerage compensation. The committee also recommended Paragraph 8B be removed.

Specific changes can be reviewed in the Meeting Minutes.

Notices Paragraph Changes

BLC recommended changes to Paragraph 21 (Notices) to clarify the acceptable delivery methods and that notices are effective when sent to a party or that party’s agent. The revised paragraph also provides more options for buyer, seller, and agent contact information.

Reorganization of Addenda Paragraph

To streamline and improve usability, the committee recommended that all addenda and notices be incorporated into Paragraph 22 and reorganized into clearly labeled categories: Financial, Leases, Additional Tests and Reports, Statutory Disclosures and Notices, and Other.

Several references requiring addenda to be attached were removed from Paragraph 6, and one subsection—Paragraph 6(E)(12)—was struck entirely to reduce redundancy.

FinCEN Reporting and Paragraph 20 Revisions

The committee recommended language that would require buyers and sellers to promptly execute and deliver information requested by the escrow agent for governmental reporting purposes (for example, reporting to the federal Financial Crimes Enforcement Network). The revised language clarifies that buyers would be responsible for any charges associated with gathering and reporting this information.

Changes Related to the Back-Up Addendum

The committee recommended the final sentence of Paragraph H of the Addendum for “Back-Up” Contract be amended to say that the effective date of the back-up contract becomes the date the seller delivers notice of termination of the first contract, rather than the date when buyer receives the notice as the Addendum currently states.

The committee also drafted a new form titled Seller’s Notice to Buyer of Removal of Contingency under Addendum for ‘Back-Up’ Contract. The committee recommended the form be for voluntary use. Review the draft in the Meeting Minutes.

Other Form Updates

During the meeting, the committee also:

• Recommended adding the term “generator” to Paragraph 2B of the contract forms.
• Reviewed and further revised the new draft Water Notice and related language in Paragraph 7I of the contract—Review the draft in the Meeting Minutes.

What’s Next

The committee voted to forward the updated drafts to the Commission for review at its next meeting in February with a request that the forms changes be proposed and published for public comment. This means that if the changes are proposed and eventually adopted, the earliest the changes would go into effect would likely be June 2026.

Where to Find Meeting Materials and Upcoming Meetings

Download the Meeting Materials and Minutes.

The Broker-Lawyer Committee’s remaining meeting dates for 2026:

• April 10, 2026
• July 10, 2026
• October 9, 2026