Texas Legal Update I & II 2026-2027: What You’ll Learn

As Texas real estate laws and regulations continue to evolve, it’s essential for licensed agents and brokers to stay current on the rules that govern how they practice. The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) oversees these changes to help ensure license holders operate ethically, remain compliant, and provide knowledgeable service to the public.

To meet these standards, TREC requires all Texas real estate agents and brokers to complete Legal Update I and Legal Update II during each two-year renewal cycle. These courses are updated regularly to reflect new laws, rule changes, and enforcement priorities that directly impact today’s real estate professionals.

In this article, we’ll walk through what you’ll learn in both Legal Update I and Legal Update II, how these courses apply to your day-to-day practice, and why completing them through a TREC-approved provider like License Classroom helps ensure a smooth renewal.

Why These Courses Matter for Texas License Holders

Texas Legal Update courses are not just a renewal requirement — they are designed to help license holders:

• Stay compliant with evolving laws and rules
• Avoid costly disciplinary actions
• Understand current enforcement priorities
• Improve consumer protection
• Strengthen professionalism and competency

Together, these two 4-hour courses (totaling 8 hours of your required 18-hour Texas real estate CE) help agents and brokers gain practical knowledge they can immediately apply to daily transactions, marketing, and client interactions.

Legal Update I 2026-2027 (4 Hours): Course Topics

Texas Legal Update I focuses on laws, rules, and foundational compliance issues that affect nearly every real estate transaction. This course emphasizes staying current with TREC rulemaking, contract usage, and fair housing responsibilities.

TREC Rules, Updates, and Legislative Changes

This section explains how TREC rules and Texas statutes are created, updated, and enforced. You’ll learn the difference between statutes passed by the Texas Legislature and rules adopted by TREC — and why both carry the force of law for license holders. The course also reviews recent legislative changes from the 89th Texas Legislature that affect real estate practice, including new education requirements and compliance obligations.

Promulgated Contract Forms and Addenda

Understanding when and how to properly use TREC-promulgated contract forms is essential to avoiding the unauthorized practice of law. Legal Update I walks through the role of the Broker-Lawyer Committee, explains mandatory vs. voluntary forms, and highlights common contract mistakes pulled directly from real enforcement cases.

Fair Housing Law Overview

Fair housing remains a major enforcement priority. This portion of the course reviews why fair housing laws exist, common violations, complaint trends, and how unintentional actions can still lead to serious consequences. You’ll also explore marketing restrictions, steering concerns, and best practices for serving all clients fairly and lawfully.

Fair Housing Best Practices and Property Management Considerations

Building on the legal framework, this section focuses on practical guidance — including disability rights, reasonable accommodations, and everyday scenarios where fair housing risks arise. These lessons are especially important for agents involved in leasing, property management, or investor transactions.

Legal Update II 2026-2027 (4 Hours): Course Topics

Texas Legal Update II shifts the focus to professional conduct, agency relationships, advertising rules, technology, military representation, and enforcement actions. This course emphasizes how license holders can protect consumers and themselves in an increasingly complex business environment.

Agency Relationships and Compliance

This section covers fiduciary duties, agency creation, non-representation status, and new requirements related to written agreements with buyers. You’ll review recent changes to TRELA that impact when written agreements are required and how agency relationships must be disclosed.

Required TREC Disclosures

Understanding and properly delivering required disclosures — such as the Information About Brokerage Services (IABS) form — is critical. Legal Update II explains when disclosures must be provided, what they must include, and how mistakes in disclosure can lead to disciplinary action.

Representing Veterans and Military Service Members

Texas has one of the largest military populations in the country. This section covers VA loan basics, benefits available to veterans, and the Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB) loan program. Agents gain insight into how to better serve military clients while avoiding compliance pitfalls.

Enforcement Actions, Case Studies, and Commission Priorities

Learning from real cases is one of the most valuable aspects of Legal Update II. This section reviews common complaints filed with TREC, enforcement trends, and real-world disciplinary actions. These examples show how small missteps — including advertising errors or improper delegation — can result in fines, reprimands, or required additional education.

Your Path to Legal Update Compliance Made Easy

The Texas Real Estate Commission requires all active Texas real estate license holders to complete Legal Update I and Legal Update II as part of their 18 total hours of continuing education during each two-year renewal cycle. These two courses account for 8 of the required hours, while the remaining 10 hours may be completed through elective CE courses that support your professional growth, such as business planning, ethics, and contracts. If you are a broker, you must also complete the broker responsibility course.

At License Classroom, our TREC-approved 2026–2027 Legal Update courses are:

• 100% online and self-paced
• Designed for both mobile and desktop learning
• Fully updated to reflect current laws and enforcement priorities
• Automatically reported to TREC after completion

Enroll in Texas Legal Update courses today through License Classroom and move through your renewal cycle with confidence, clarity, and compliance.