Jan. 18, 2023

In This Issue:

  • 88th Texas Legislature: TLTA Board Adopts Affirmative Legislative Agenda Items, Group Hotel Rate for TLTA Day at Capitol Ends Saturday, Bills of Interest
  • Texas AG Pax­ton Peti­tions U.S. Supreme Court to Hear CFPB Case
  • FTC Proposes Rule to Ban Noncompete Clauses
  • How Title Companies Are Combating Wire Fraud

88th Texas Legislature: TLTA Board Adopts Affirmative Legislative Agenda Items, Group Hotel Rate for TLTA Day at Capitol Ends Saturday, Bills of Interest

TLTA | Jan. 18, 2023
The Governor and Lt. Governor were inaugurated this week. Their inauguration speeches included preview of what they expect from the Texas Legislature during the legislative session.
 
While legislative committees have not been named yet, the process of producing the state budget for the upcoming 2024-25 biennium is in motion and both chambers have filed their version of the base budget. Adopting a biennial budget is the only action the Legislature is constitutionally required to complete, therefore the process of developing the state budget impacts every policy area and every piece of legislation Capitol-wide. 

TLTA Board Adopts Affirmative Legislative Agenda for 88th Sesion

TLTA's Board of Directors met today, Jan. 18, to review and adopt three items on TLTA's affirmative legislative agenda for the Texas Legislature's 88th Session. The following items were approved by the board, meaning TLTA staff and other industry advocates are directed to work with lawmakers to seek passage of legislation addressing our industry's priorities and concerns as follows:
  1. Enhance the statute prohibiting Private Transfer Fee Covenants in Texas.
  2. Allow for Remote Ink Notary (RIN) within the existing statutory Remote Online Notary (RON) framework.
  3. Clarify that a deed conveying title into a trust (as opposed to the trustee of that trust) shall be deemed to be a conveyance into the trustee.
Please note that additional affirmative agenda items could be considered or approved during the session. Additionally, there are other bills that TLTA may support during the session via our work with allied housing trade organizations and other advocates for our state's real estate marketplace.
 
If you have questions about TLTA's affirmative agenda or other aspects of our industry's work at the Texas Legislature this session, please send your questions to TLTA Director of Government Affairs and Counsel, Aaron Day. 

Bills to Watch

TLTA's legislative team reviews all bills filed during the session and monitors those that might impact our industry or the state's real estate marketplace. If these bills begin to move through the process and TLTA takes official positions on them, we’ll provide more detailed information about our stance and how they might affect you and your business. Review Current Bills to Watch List.
 

Day at Capitol 3 Weeks Away; Hotel Group Rate Expires This Saturday 

 
 
Two Easy Steps to Join Us For This Important Industry Event
  
1) Register now
It's time to start scheduling appointments with legislators
 
2) Book your hotel room before group rate expires
Day at the Capitol hotel group rate expires this Saturday, January 21
 

Texas AG Pax­ton Peti­tions U.S. Supreme Court to Hear CFPB Case

Texas Attorney General | Jan. 12, 2023
 Attorney General Paxton has joined a cert-stage amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear CFPB v. CFSAA (Case No. 22-448).
 
Learn More »

FTC Proposes Rule to Ban Noncompete Clauses

ALTA | Jan. 10, 2023
 The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Jan. 5 proposed a rule that would ban employers from imposing noncompete agreements with their workers. The proposed rule would apply to independent contractors and anyone who works for an employer, whether paid or unpaid. It would also require employers to rescind existing noncompetes and actively inform workers that they are no longer in effect.

Review FTC's Proposal »

How Title Companies Are Combating Wire Fraud

ALTA | Jan. 4, 2023
 Cyberattacks, particularly wire fraud through business email compromise, remain a major concern for the title industry. Attempted attacks increased significantly, according to a 2022 survey by the American Land Title Association, with 46% of respondents saying their employees receive at least one email a month attempting to change wire or payoff instructions.

We sat down with ALTA CEO Diane Tomb to talk about ways title insurance companies can help their customers avoid falling prey to such attempts.
 
Read More »