What Changed for Texas Brokers in 2026: SB 1968, the Broker Responsibility Course and the 720-Point Rule

Short answer: Since January 1, 2026, Texas brokers work under SB 1968 and a stricter broker-license rule. Every broker and every broker applicant must take the six-hour Broker Responsibility Course. Associated brokers must name the broker they associate with, and every license holder gives TREC a business address and phone number. TREC may notify associated license holders about an investigation. Subagency is repealed, a broker may show property without representing a buyer under set conditions, and a written agreement is required before showing a home to a buyer. TREC's rule now requires 720 experience points, up from 360, and counts a bachelor's degree as 300 hours of related education.

The Broker Responsibility Course is now for every broker

Before SB 1968, the course was required of a designated broker of a business entity, a broker who sponsored a sales agent, or a license holder who supervised another license holder. Now it must be attended during the current license term by every licensed broker and by any sales agent who supervises another license holder. TREC sets its content, and it may not exceed six classroom hours. It is also part of the 18 hours of continuing education each broker and each delegated supervisor completes for renewal, and it is a requirement for every broker applicant, whether or not the applicant will ever sponsor sales agents.

Associated brokers, contact information and complaint notices

• Every license holder must give TREC a current mailing address, business address, business telephone number and business email address, and report changes.
• An associated broker (a broker who associates with and is paid through another broker in a continuing relationship) must also name that broker. TREC's article says the broker accepts the association request in the REALM portal and the association is displayed publicly.
• TREC may now send its notice of an investigation to a license holder associated with the person being investigated. TREC's article describes this as notifying brokers when complaints are filed against their associated brokers.

Subagency repealed and showings without representation

SB 1968 repealed the definition of "subagent" and the related liability provision. A broker may now show property to a party without representing that party, but only if the broker has not agreed (orally or in writing) to represent the party, is not otherwise acting as the party's agent, gives no opinions or advice, and performs no other brokerage act for the party. Before the showing, the broker discloses that it represents the owner, or gives the IABS notice if it does not. The broker may still confirm the size, price and terms of the property. The IABS notice itself now also describes a broker's basic obligations to a party the broker does not represent.

The written agreement before showing a home

A license holder who performs any brokerage act for a prospective buyer of residential real property (a single-family house, a duplex, triplex or quadraplex, or a condominium or cooperative unit) must enter into a written agreement before showing any such property or, if none is shown, before presenting an offer. The agreement states the services, the termination date, whether it is exclusive, the representation status, and the amount or rate of compensation and how it is determined. It must say conspicuously that broker compensation is not set by law and is fully negotiable. An agreement only for showing property under the no-representation rule may not be exclusive and may not run more than fourteen days. Failing to enter into a required agreement is a new ground for discipline.

Broker licensing: 720 points and degree credit

• The minimum experience rose from 360 to 720 points, still earned during at least four years of active experience in the 60 months before filing.
• A bachelor's degree or higher now satisfies 300 hours of related education. TREC's article notes it was previously up to 630 hours.
• Points above the 720 minimum earn one classroom hour for every two points, for up to 300 classroom hours. TREC's article phrases the cap differently; the rule's wording, in hours, is the one to learn.
• Applications are judged under the rules in effect when submitted, so applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026, use the new requirements.

What this means for the exam

The Texas Broker State Law outline is dated April 15, 2020, before all of these changes. Study the law in effect now: expect questions that use the written buyer agreement, showing-only limits, the Broker Responsibility Course for all brokers and the 720-point rule, and distractors built on the old rules. Review the lessons on agency and written buyer agreements, broker supervision and broker licensing, or see the broker exam study plan.

Independent exam-prep guide. Not affiliated with the Texas Real Estate Commission or Pearson VUE. Always confirm current requirements with TREC.