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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the licensing of real estate inspectors. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1102.001(5), Occupations Code, is |
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redesignated as Section 1102.001(8-a), Occupations Code, and |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(8-a) "Qualifying [(5) "Core] real estate inspection |
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course" means an educational course approved by the commission that |
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relates to real estate inspection, including a course on structural |
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items, electrical items, mechanical systems, plumbing systems, |
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roofing, business, law, standards of practice, report writing, |
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appliances, or ethics. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1102.107, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1102.107. ELIGIBILITY FOR APPRENTICE INSPECTOR |
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LICENSE. To be eligible for an apprentice inspector license, an |
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applicant must: |
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(1) at the time of application be: |
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(A) at least 18 years of age; and |
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(B) a citizen of the United States or a lawfully |
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admitted alien; |
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(2) be sponsored by a professional inspector; [and] |
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(3) submit evidence satisfactory to the commission of |
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successful completion of at least four classroom hours of a |
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qualifying real estate inspection course as required by commission |
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rule; and |
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(4) satisfy the commission as to the applicant's |
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honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity. |
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SECTION 3. Section 1102.108(a), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) To be eligible for a real estate inspector license, an |
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applicant must: |
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(1) at the time of application have: |
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(A) held an apprentice inspector license for at |
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least three months; and |
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(B) performed at least 25 real estate inspections |
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under direct supervision; |
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(2) submit evidence satisfactory to the commission of |
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successful completion of at least 90 classroom hours of qualifying |
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[core] real estate inspection courses, in addition to the hours |
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required by Section 1102.107; |
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(3) demonstrate competence based on the examination |
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under Subchapter D; |
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(4) be sponsored by a professional inspector; and |
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(5) satisfy the commission as to the applicant's |
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honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, and competence. |
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SECTION 4. Section 1102.109, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1102.109. ELIGIBILITY FOR PROFESSIONAL INSPECTOR |
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LICENSE. To be eligible for a professional inspector license, an |
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applicant must: |
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(1) at the time of application have: |
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(A) held a real estate inspector license for at |
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least 12 months; and |
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(B) performed at least 175 real estate |
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inspections under indirect supervision; |
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(2) submit evidence satisfactory to the commission of |
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successful completion of at least 40 classroom hours of qualifying |
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[core] real estate inspection courses, in addition to the hours |
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required by Sections 1102.107 and [Section] 1102.108; |
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(3) demonstrate competence based on the examination |
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under Subchapter D; and |
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(4) satisfy the commission as to the applicant's |
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honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, and competence. |
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SECTION 5. Section 1102.111(b), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) Rules adopted under Subsection (a) may not require an |
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applicant to: |
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(1) complete more than 320 additional hours of |
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qualifying [core] real estate inspection courses; |
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(2) complete more than 40 hours of field work, if the |
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applicant completes correspondence or other course provided by |
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alternative means; or |
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(3) have more than seven years of relevant experience. |
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SECTION 6. Section 1102.151(a), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A license examination must evaluate competence in the |
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subject matter of each required qualifying [core] real estate |
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inspection course. |
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SECTION 7. Section 1102.205(b), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) As a prerequisite for renewal of a real estate inspector |
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license, professional inspector license, or apprentice inspector |
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license, the inspector must participate in the continuing education |
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program and submit evidence satisfactory to the commission of |
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successful completion of at least 16 classroom hours of qualifying |
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[core] real estate inspection courses or continuing education |
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courses for each year of the license period preceding the renewal. |
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SECTION 8. Sections 1102.107, 1102.108(a), and 1102.109, |
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Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to an |
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application for a license under Chapter 1102, Occupations Code, |
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submitted on or after the effective date of this Act. An |
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application for a license submitted before the effective date of |
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this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the |
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application was submitted, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 9. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026. |