bill renaming “core” inspector courses “qualifying” courses

The text as introduced · 721 words

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.