July 24, 2025

In This Issue:

TDI Publishes Quarterly Audit Results (March-May 2025)
New Webinar: FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Requirements Effective Dec. 1. Register Now for Live Presentation Sept. 15.
Texas Legislature's Special Session Started This Week. Deed Fraud, Property Tax Reduction on the Special Session Call

TDI Publishes Quarterly Audit Results (March-May 2025)

TLTA | July 21, 2025

The following is a summary of recent TDI audits, violations and enforcement actions from March through May 2025.

Read TDI's complete summary of operations for the quarter. Below are TDI's most common audit findings for the quarter:

Section 2702.053 – Actual receipts and/or disbursements not in agreement with settlement statement or premium split not disclosed. (Statutes and Administrative Rules)
Outstanding checks not cleared timely (Escrow Accounting)
#16 - Every disbursement not supported by invoice or sufficient other evidence. (Minimum Escrow Accounting Procedures and Internal Controls)
P-21: Schedule D of commitment not in file or premium split not disclosed on commitment. (Procedural Rules)
Title Bulletin No. 160 – All parties receiving portions of real estate commission not disclosed on settlement statement. (Title Bulletins)

Read complete summary for the quarter »

New Webinar: FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Requirements Effective Dec. 1. Register Now for Live Presentation Sept. 15.

TLTA | July 17, 2025

FinCEN’s new residential real estate reporting rule takes effect Dec. 1., and this extended, two-hour compliance training will help you get ahead of it. Join us Sept. 15 as we revisit the foundational elements of the rule, then take a deeper dive into how these requirements will affect your day-to-day work. You’ll walk through real-life contract scenarios, learn how to complete the new Residential Real Estate Report, and explore anticipated pain points that seasoned professionals are already identifying—before the rule even goes live.

Live Webinar: FinCEN’s New Reporting Rule: Practical Tools and Strategies for Compliance »
September 15, 2025
10 a.m.–12 p.m. CT

Presented by Leslie S. Johnson, CTIP, WFG National Title Insurance Company, and Roland Love, CTIP, Independence Title

This session goes beyond a high-level overview. You’ll gain practical strategies, compliance tools, and actionable insights designed to help your team stay prepared, avoid delays, and keep closings on track.

Learn more and register now »

ICYMI: TLTA Submits Letter to FinCEN re: Rule and Form

TLTA recently submitted to FinCEN a comment letter as part of the rule making process expressing our continued concerns with their new Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule and Form effective Dec. 1. The rule is aimed at detecting money laundering in certain residential cash transactions and greatly expands the current reporting requirements. It will have a time-consuming and costly compliance requirement for title agents

Read TLTA's letter to FinCEN »
Learn more about the new reporting rule scheduled to go into effect Dec. 1 »

Texas Legislature's Special Session Started This Week. Deed Fraud, Property Tax Reduction on the Special Session Call

TLTA | July 24, 2025

Bills Filed Relevant to Our Industry

While these early days of the special session are focused on disaster response and other issues of high importance to legislative leadership, bills have been filed on deed fraud, seller impersonation, and property taxes. Our advocacy team continues to be in direct contact with lawmakers and staff about our industry’s perspective on these initiatives. Here are two bills you should be aware of that our industry team is working:

SB 15
SB 36

We will report more as the special session continues.

Special Session Background

Following the recently completed regular legislative session, Gov. Abbott called lawmakers back for a special session that began Monday, July 21. Deed Fraud, property tax reduction, and 16 other issues are on the formal call issued by Gov. Abbott. During a special session, legislators can only pass bills related to issues on the governor's special session proclamation. Gov. Abbott has the authority to expand the call at any time.

Among the bills on the special session agenda is SB 648, a deed fraud bill supported by the county clerks association and passed by lawmakers during the 89th Regular Session. TLTA's advocacy team worked with legislators and the clerks to improve this bill prior to passage, and we are ready to continue that work during the special session.

Additionally, we are working with the governor’s office and Sen. West to seek expansion of the call and bills to include a special criminal statute on seller impersonation and deed fraud.

Read special session proclamation »
Read Gov. Abbott's press release »