May 8, 2026
In This Issue:
- TREC Adopts Contract Form Changes During May 4 Meeting; Changes To Be Implemented July 1, 2026
- TLTA Advocacy Team in Action: Leslie Midgley Joins Building Trades Partners Discussion at Texas Realtors Large Broker Summit
- In Memoriam: William Edward Hill, III
- ICYMI: TDI Publishes Quarterly Audit Results (Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026)
TREC Adopts Contract Form Changes During May 4 Meeting; Changes to Be Implemented July 1, 2026
TLTA | May 6, 2026
The Texas Real Estate Commission met this week and voted to adopt contract form changes recommended by the Broker-Lawyer Committee, including new language re: how to address governmental reporting requirements (this new language stems from a request made by TLTA, as
detailed in this Dateline article).
TREC has not published a complete summary of the final changes adopted yet, but TLTA is monitoring this process and will share a summary of the final changes when they are available.
The revised forms can be used voluntarily now, and their use will be mandatory beginning July 1, 2026.
Download the meeting minutes from May 4 hearing »
Review the proposed contract changes posted for public comment in February »
Review additional non-substantive changes incorporated in response to public comment »
TLTA Advocacy Team in Action: Leslie Midgley Joins Building Trades Partners Discussion at Texas Realtors Large Broker Summit
TLTA | April 30, 2026
TLTA Executive Vice President and CEO Leslie Midgley joined a Real Estate Industry Partner Panel at the Texas Realtor's Large Broker Summit last week.
The panel discussed the biggest forces shaping the housing market right now that brokers need to pay attention to. Leslie Midgley spoke on the ongoing fraud challenges, the status of the FinCEN rule, and the overall state of the real estate economy from the title insurance industry's perspective.
From left to right: Mike Barnett (Texas Realtors Association), Scott Norman (Texas Builders Association), Leslie Midgley (TLTA), and Scott Norman (Texas Mortgage Bankers Association)
In Memoriam: William Edward Hill, III
TLTA | May 4, 2026
Longtime TLTA Associate member and highly regarded industry partner, Ed Hill, passed away recently. Ed was a CPA specializing in escrow audits and statistical reporting and was well known and respected in the Texas title business. Among other industry-supportive efforts, he offered his expertise during critical rule making at TDI and was instrumental in TLTA’s early educational efforts on statistical reporting compliance.
Ed made an impact on our industry by generously sharing his deep expertise and he’ll be greatly missed by his many friends and colleagues in the title business. TLTA CEO Leslie Midgley shared her remembrance of him, “Ed was truly one of a kind…smart, eager to help title agents succeed, and universally loved for his big heart, warm personality, and infectious sense of humor. Godspeed, friend.”
Read Ed's obituary »
ICYMI: 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.