We bring expertise and experience that legislators respect—information to help them make better laws.
One thing I never imagined when starting my real estate career was that I would one day sit behind a microphone at a committee hearing at the Texas Legislature explaining to elected officials how beneficial or harmful a proposed bill could be. But that’s where I sometimes find myself these days.
Testifying at the Capitol is a critical part of our association’s advocacy efforts. Why? Because committees at the Statehouse make or break most proposed bills. With so much at stake, you can rest assured that no one who represents Texas REALTORS® goes to the Capitol and wings it.
Those of us who testify—association officers, REALTORS® with expertise in particular areas, and Texas REALTORS® staff—come with prepared remarks. We have talking points to address anticipated questions. Association staff coordinates all testimony to ensure Texas REALTORS® is speaking with a unified, effective voice. As you know, our association’s legislative positions start from grassroots input and committees, and then they are adopted by our Executive Board. Every time we testify, we use that carefully crafted foundation as the basis of our remarks.
If you’re picturing the contentious scenes that sometimes play out in the U.S. Congress, let me paint you a different picture. The hearings we participate in are usually cordial and productive. After reading a brief statement on our association’s position, we may field questions from legislators. Some senators and representatives seek clarifications, while others explore positions that don’t mesh with ours. Sure, a loaded question may come our way—and we’re ready for it—but these are nothing like the headline-grabbing investigative hearings you see in the U.S. Congress.
When making our remarks, we provide insights on the positive or negative ramifications of a proposal. We bring expertise and experience that legislators respect—information to help them make better laws. They need to know details that we understand better than anyone about how a bill will place new burdens on homeownership, make real estate transactions more expensive or complex, or erode property rights. Make no mistake—some of the most important work we do is to point out which legislation should not pass. Conversely, legislators get our insights on bills that should become law to strengthen property rights, create opportunities for more Texans to enjoy property ownership, and foster a favorable business environment in our state.
As I write this, we have six weeks left in the 88th Legislature. No one ever knows what twists and turns a session may take. But I can promise you this: Our association does everything possible to ensure a favorable outcome for REALTORS® and all Texans. Our efforts begin between legislative sessions with our political involvement and TREPAC support for candidates. During the session, we shift to direct lobbying, grassroots mobilization, mobile alerts, calls for action, legislative contact team engagement, and, yes, sitting in committee rooms at the Capitol waiting for our turn to get behind the microphone. When we testify, our elected officials may hear one person speaking, but they know that individual represents the 150,000-plus Texas REALTORS® working hard every day to keep our state the best in the nation to transact and own property.