May 17, 2023
In This Issue:
- 88th Texas Legislature: TLTA Priority Bills Headed to the Governor's Desk Following Senate and House Passage
- Texas Title Industry Connects With Congressional Delegation During ALTA's Advocacy Summit in D.C.
- CFPB Makes Its Constitutionality Case to the Supreme Court
88th Texas Legislature: TLTA Priority Bills Headed to the Governor's Desk Following Senate and House Passage
TLTA | May 17, 2023
We are excited to report that the two bills TLTA is working to pass this session have been approved by both chambers of the Legislature and are on their way to the Governor's desk. More info can be found in the blurbs below.
With less than two weeks to go in the Texas Legislature's 88th Session, many of the session's major issues remain unresolved, including the state budget, property tax relief, electric grid reform, and more. Thousands of still-viable bills are working their way through the legislative process at all hours day and night, and your TLTA advocacy team are watching all of it closely. We remain on guard against the resurrection of bad bills, and we continue working with lawmakers on bills that could impact our industry or the real estate marketplace. Gratitude is due to the army of industry volunteers who remain on call to answer questions and assist as needed, oftentimes late at night and on weekends. Thank you, all.
There are 12 days remaining in the Texas Legislature's 88th Session.
RIN Bill and Trust As Grantee Clarification Bills Approved by Senate and House, En Route to Governor's Desk
As part of our industry's affirmative agenda for the 88th Legislative Session, TLTA is seeking passage of a bill allowing for Remote Ink Notarization (RIN) within the existing statutory Remote Online Notarization (RON) framework. Additionally, we are working to pass a bill clarifying that a deed conveying title to a trust (as opposed to naming the trustee of that trust) should be deemed to be a conveyance into the trustee.
Both of these bills,
SB 801 and
SB 1780, have won approval of the Senate and House and are now on their way to the Governor's desk. The Governor can veto them, sign them, or let them become law without his signature. Our advocacy team is working with the bill authors and Governor's staff to secure a favorable outcome in this final stage of the legislative process.
TLTA's Affirmative Legislative Agenda: Bills We're Working to Pass
As noted in the blurb above, TLTA's advocacy team is supporting passage of the following bills during the 88th Legislative Session. These affirmative legislative agenda items were approved by
TLTA's Board of Directors as recommended by our
Legislative Committee, which is chaired by Steve Streiff. These statutory changes would improve real estate transactions statewide:
Trust as Grantee Clarification
SB 801 (Sen. Hughes) |
HB 4281 (Rep. Longoria)
Review TLTA's One-Pager
Remote Ink Notarization
SB 1780 (Sen. Parker) |
HB 5004 (Rep. Capriglione)
Review TLTA's One-Pager
Bills TLTA's Board Voted to Support
In addition to the bills we're working to pass listed above, TLTA's Board voted April 4 to support the following bills this session:
Bills TLTA is supporting this session »
TLTA is Actively Working on These Bills That Could Impact Our industry
While we are monitoring more than 100 bills this session that could impact our industry or the state's real estate marketplace, some of the bills on that list require active engagement by our advocacy team. Review list of bills TLTA is working on that could impact our industry.
We are working with the bill authors and other stakeholders to address concerns and seek improvements to these bills to avoid unintended consequences and preserve our daily functions as title agents and underwriters.
Questions About TLTA's Legislative Process?
TLTA's Legislative Committee, Local Legislative Liaisons, our industry's grassroots network and the TLTA PAC Board of Governors are all part of TLTA's team of engaged legislative advocates.
Learn More About TLTA's Legislative Process and How You Can Get Involved »
Texas Title Industry Connects With Congressional Delegation During ALTA's Advocacy Summit in D.C.
TLTA | May 16, 2023
TLTA members and staff traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in ALTA's Advocacy Summit May 8-10, attending 13 meetings with members of the Texas congressional delegation and their staffs.
The following Texas title professionals participated as part of TLTA's delegation: ALTA President Jack Rattikin III, TLTA President Paul R. Rodriguez, Brian Pitman, Celia Flowers, Mary Thomas, Tara Smith, Jennifer Tierney, Mark Till, Brooks Yeager, Troy Greenamyre, Leslie Midgley, TLTA Federal Counsel Jim Hyland. We are grateful for this outstanding team of industry advocates.
TLTA's delegation met with members and staff from the following congressional offices: U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz. U.S. Reps. Jodey Arrington, Beth Van Duyne, Nathaniel Moran, Lance Gooden, Henry Cuellar, Jake Ellzey, Roger Williams, Kay Granger, Vincente Gonzalez, Monica De La Cruz, and Al Green..
TLTA President Paul R. Rodriguez and Congressman Henry Cuellar
Meeting with Sen. John Cornyn (from left to right: Brian Pitman, Tara Smith, Troy Greenamyre, Sen. John Cornyn, Jennifer Tierney, Mark Till, Brooks Yeager, Mary Thomas)
All of the meetings TLTA's delegation participated in during the advocacy summit were productive, and we heard positive feedback from federal lawmakers on our industry's strong concerns related to Fannie and Freddie’s proposed pilot program to waive title insurance.
See More Photos of TLTA's Delegation With Federal Lawmakers »
CFPB Makes Its Constitutionality Case to the Supreme Court
HousingWire | May 12, 2023
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) filed a brief this week with the U.S. Supreme Court contending that its funding source does not violate the appropriations clause of the U.S. Constitution, despite a recent Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling stating otherwise.
Read More »
Review CFPB's Brief »
TLTA's Editor's Note: ICYMI, 140 current and former Democratic lawmakers recently submitted an amicus brief to the court re: CFPB's funding, as did a coalition of realtors, mortgage bankers and homebuilders.