May 24, 2023
In This Issue:
- 88th Texas Legislature: Less Than 1 Week to Go
- TLTA Joins ALTA and More Than 100 Groups Signing Letter of Support for SECURE
- House Financial Services Committee Holds Oversight Hearing With FHFA Director Sandra Thompson; Title Insurance Discussed
- ICYMI: Texas Title Industry Connects With Congressional Delegation During ALTA's Advocacy Summit in D.C.
88th Texas Legislature: Less Than 1 Week to Go
TLTA | May 24, 2023
The Texas Legislature's 88th Session is scheduled to end in less than a week on May 29, and many high priority issues remain unresolved. Thousands of bills have already died, including the foreign ownership bill we've been reporting on since December (scroll to the end of
this article to learn more). As reported last week, the two bills on TLTA’s Affirmative Legislative Agenda have been sent to the Governor (learn more in the blurb below).
This is a time of great turmoil within the state Capitol, and our advocacy team remains watchful and on call around the clock to provide support as needed for the lawmakers and legislative leadership navigating the final days of session.
There are 5 days remaining in the Texas Legislature's 88th Session.
TLTA's Affirmative Legislative Agenda: The Two Bills We're Working to Pass This Session Have Been Approved by Both Chambers and Sent to the Governor
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.
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.
Learn more about these bills and how they will 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 »
TLTA Joins ALTA and More Than 100 Groups Signing Letter of Support for SECURE
ALTA| May 18, 2023
TLTA signed onto a letter ALTA and a coalition of more than 100 other businesses and trade associations sent a letter to Sens. Cramer (R-N.D.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) expressing support for the for the bipartisan Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic Notarization Act (SECURE).
Read More and Review the Letter »
House Financial Services Committee Holds Oversight Hearing With FHFA Director Sandra Thompson; Title Insurance Discussed
TLTA | May 24, 2023
On Tuesday the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing with Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Sandra Thompson entitled FHFA Oversight: Protecting Homeowners and Taxpayers. Committee members asked questions about title insurance and expressed concerns about unregulated title insurance alternatives.
Watch a Recording of the Hearing »
Read FHFA Director Sandra Thompson's Written Testimony »
ICYMI: 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 »