April 30, 2026
In This Issue:
- TDI Publishes Quarterly Audit Results (Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026)
- ICYMI: TLTA and Real Estate Trades Coalition Submit Written Comments on Proposed New Reporting Rule re: SB 17 Foreign Ownership of Property in Texas
- COMPLIANCE REMINDER: Agent Stat Reports Due Tomorrow. Submit Now to Avoid Technical Challenges That Could Lead to Non-Compliance With Deadline.
TDI Publishes Quarterly Audit Results (Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026)
TLTA | April 30, 2026
The following is a summary of recent TDI audits, violations and enforcement actions from December 2025 through February 2026.
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-73: Failure to prepare/maintain Form T-64 (TD) when CD used, or Form T64 was not signed by all parties. Prepared incorrectly. (Procedural Rules)
#15- Disbursement sheets missing, incomplete or incorrect
Read complete summary of TDI's findings for the quarter »
TLTA Editor's Note: TLTA's online learning center includes on-demand webinars that could help your team maintain compliance with common TDI audit concerns: Unveiling Common Mistakes, The Escrow Accounting Blueprint, The Title Agent Compliance Checklist: Reporting Deadlines, Requirements, and Audit Readiness.
ICYMI: TLTA and Real Estate Trades Coalition Submit Written Comments on Proposed New Reporting Rule re: SB 17 Foreign Ownership of Property in Texas
TLTA | April 24, 2026
TLTA's Advocacy Team and a coalition of of our real estate, building and lending trades partners submitted comments to the Texas Attorney General's office last week regarding the AG's new proposed reporting requirements for title agents related to the passage of SB 17 re: foreign ownership of property in Texas.
This was an important opportunity for the real estate industry to articulate its concerns about the impact and legality of the proposed rules.
Review formal comment letter »
BACKGROUND
The Texas Attorney General’s office has proposed a new reporting rule re: the prohibition of foreign ownership of property. This rule would potentially place significant responsibility and both civil and criminal liabilities on title agents and underwriters as well as other individuals and entities involved in every real estate transaction.
As proposed, entities and individuals surrounding any real estate transaction who after “reasonable due diligence…[knew] or should have known” that a buyer would be possessing the property in violation of the foreign ownership statute created by SB 17, which prohibits certain foreign buyers and members of certain groups from owning property in Texas.
During the 89th Legislative Session in 2025, Texas lawmakers passed Senate Bill 17, which prohibits people, companies and government-linked entities from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia from acquiring most types of real estate in Texas. The new law went into effect Sept. 1, 2025.
The law also allows for the Governor to add countries or organizations to the list of prohibited affiliations for individuals or entities seeking ownership of property in Texas. Last November, the Governor added two organizations to that list, the Muslim Brotherhood and Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
Review the AG's proposed rule »
Review SB 17 »
Read Governor’s proclamation expanding the list of organizations in relation to SB 17 »
Questions or Comments? We'll continue to keep you updated on developments
TLTA will continue to keep you informed of any developments related to this proposal. If you have questions or comments, please contact Aaron Day at
[email protected] or 512.472.6593.
COMPLIANCE REMINDER: Agent Stat Reports Due Tomorrow. Submit Now to Avoid Technical Challenges That Could Lead to Non-Compliance With Deadline.
TLTA | April 24, 2026
The May 1, 2026, deadline for submitting your 2025 TDI Agent Statistical Report is tomorrow. Submit your report now to avoid any technical challenges that could lead to non-compliance with the deadline.
Some agents experienced technical challenges when submitting their reports in the past. If an agent is unable to submit their data by the deadline due to technical challenges, the agent would be considered non-compliant with TDI's call and could be subject to enforcement action.
TDI receives many reports on the last day making it hard for them to answer questions. So the earlier you submit, the better your opportunity to respond to any technical challenges and stay timely and compliant, avoiding any late filing fines.
As a reminder, TDI issued this data call in accordance with Texas Insurance Code §2703.153, which requires all title insurance companies and agents doing business in Texas to annually submit data used to set title insurance premium rates. This is the first year under TDI's new rule establishing fixed annual timelines for data collection.
You must respond to this data call no later than May 1, 2026 using the
provided instructions and forms. If you have questions, contact TDI's Property and Casualty Actuarial Office at 512-676-6693 or
[email protected].
Review TDI's instructions, forms »
On-Demand Webinar Available to Help Agents Prepare Their Reports
2025 TDI Agent Statistical Report: What You Need to Know Before May 1
Recorded March 24, 2026 | 2.0 Hrs. Escrow CE Credit
Ann Garza, SVP and Chief Title Officer at Benchmark Title, walks through the report form by form — explaining how the data ties back to your financials, where agents most often run into trouble, and how to avoid errors that result in resubmissions.
Your purchase includes an annotated fillable experience report, the TDI General Instruction Manual, the TDI FAQ, and a supplemental Q&A document.
Access the On-Demand Recording »