89R13676 RAL-F
By: Goodwin H.B. No. 3593
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the licensing of real estate inspectors.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1102.001(5), Occupations Code, is
redesignated as Section 1102.001(8-a), Occupations Code, and
amended to read as follows:
(8-a) "Qualifying [(5) "Core] real estate inspection
course" means an educational course approved by the commission that
relates to real estate inspection, including a course on structural
items, electrical items, mechanical systems, plumbing systems,
roofing, business, law, standards of practice, report writing,
appliances, or ethics.
SECTION 2. Section 1102.107, Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 1102.107. ELIGIBILITY FOR APPRENTICE INSPECTOR
LICENSE. To be eligible for an apprentice inspector license, an
applicant must:
(1) at the time of application be:
(A) at least 18 years of age; and
(B) a citizen of the United States or a lawfully
admitted alien;
(2) be sponsored by a professional inspector; [and]
(3) submit evidence satisfactory to the commission of
successful completion of at least four classroom hours of a
qualifying real estate inspection course as required by commission
rule; and
(4) satisfy the commission as to the applicant's
honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity.
SECTION 3. Section 1102.108(a), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) To be eligible for a real estate inspector license, an
applicant must:
(1) at the time of application have:
(A) held an apprentice inspector license for at
least three months; and
(B) performed at least 25 real estate inspections
under direct supervision;
(2) submit evidence satisfactory to the commission of
successful completion of at least 90 classroom hours of qualifying
[core] real estate inspection courses, in addition to the hours
required by Section 1102.107;
(3) demonstrate competence based on the examination
under Subchapter D;
(4) be sponsored by a professional inspector; and
(5) satisfy the commission as to the applicant's
honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, and competence.
SECTION 4. Section 1102.109, Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 1102.109. ELIGIBILITY FOR PROFESSIONAL INSPECTOR
LICENSE. To be eligible for a professional inspector license, an
applicant must:
(1) at the time of application have:
(A) held a real estate inspector license for at
least 12 months; and
(B) performed at least 175 real estate
inspections under indirect supervision;
(2) submit evidence satisfactory to the commission of
successful completion of at least 40 classroom hours of qualifying
[core] real estate inspection courses, in addition to the hours
required by Sections 1102.107 and [Section] 1102.108;
(3) demonstrate competence based on the examination
under Subchapter D; and
(4) satisfy the commission as to the applicant's
honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, and competence.
SECTION 5. Section 1102.111(b), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) Rules adopted under Subsection (a) may not require an
applicant to:
(1) complete more than 320 additional hours of
qualifying [core] real estate inspection courses;
(2) complete more than 40 hours of field work, if the
applicant completes correspondence or other course provided by
alternative means; or
(3) have more than seven years of relevant experience.
SECTION 6. Section 1102.151(a), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) A license examination must evaluate competence in the
subject matter of each required qualifying [core] real estate
inspection course.
SECTION 7. Section 1102.205(b), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) As a prerequisite for renewal of a real estate inspector
license, professional inspector license, or apprentice inspector
license, the inspector must participate in the continuing education
program and submit evidence satisfactory to the commission of
successful completion of at least 16 classroom hours of qualifying
[core] real estate inspection courses or continuing education
courses for each year of the license period preceding the renewal.
SECTION 8. Sections 1102.107, 1102.108(a), and 1102.109,
Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to an
application for a license under Chapter 1102, Occupations Code,
submitted on or after the effective date of this Act. An
application for a license submitted before the effective date of
this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the
application was submitted, and the former law is continued in
effect for that purpose.
SECTION 9. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.