Black Label Leads the Charge for Greater Transparency in Texas Real Estate: Our Petition to TREC

At Black Label Real Estate Advisors, our mission has always been to elevate the standard of real estate practice in Texas. That means more than helping clients buy and sell homes; it means advocating for transparency, integrity, and accountability across our industry.

Today, we are proud to share that our Broker/Owner, Amber DiCaro Montanio, has formally submitted a Petition for Rulemaking to the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) seeking an important change that would benefit both Texas consumers and real estate professionals statewide.

What the Petition Requests

The petition asks TREC to create a public, comprehensive license-history and disciplinary-transparency system for every licensed real estate agent and broker in the state. This new system would make essential information easily accessible to the public in one location.

Specifically, the proposed rule asks TREC to display:

✔ A full brokerage affiliation history

Every brokerage a licensee has been sponsored by—with start and end dates clearly listed.

✔ A public record of finalized disciplinary actions

Including:

• Agreed orders

• Administrative penalties

• Suspensions or probations

• Required education

• Any other finalized enforcement outcomes

✔ All information in one, user-friendly location

Consumers, brokers, and REALTOR® associations should not have to file open records requests or search separate databases to understand a licensee’s background.

Other highly regulated professions in Texas—law, nursing, and medicine—already maintain transparent public record systems. Real estate is long overdue for this level of clarity.

Why This Change Matters

For Consumers

Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions many Texans will ever make. Consumers deserve clear access to the professional history of the person representing them.

A transparent system helps consumers:

• Choose an agent they can trust

• Identify experienced professionals

• Protect themselves from repeat offenders or individuals with histories of disciplinary violations

For Brokers

Brokerage owners are responsible for supervising agents. But under the current system, a broker may have no easy way to verify a licensee’s full history before sponsoring them.

This rule change supports brokers by:

• Providing full insight into a licensee’s background

• Improving hiring decisions

• Reducing risk and liability

• Strengthening the professionalism of brokerages statewide

For the Real Estate Industry as a Whole

Maintaining high ethical standards is essential for a healthy marketplace. Transparency protects the integrity of the profession and strengthens public confidence.

This proposed rule is not punitive; it is foundational.

Why Black Label Is Advocating for This Reform

As a brokerage, we take pride in providing honest, informed guidance to our clients and holding our profession to the highest standard. After years of navigating the regulatory system and seeing firsthand how difficult it can be to locate complete and accurate information about license holders, it became clear that Texas needs a stronger, more accessible transparency framework.

Our goal is simple:
Empower consumers, equip brokers, and raise the bar for professional accountability.

Understanding the TREC Rulemaking Process

Many Texans aren’t aware that TREC accepts formal petitions from the public. Under state law:

1. Any Texas resident or license holder may submit a petition requesting a new rule or a change to an existing rule.

2. TREC must formally acknowledge the petition and evaluate whether to open rulemaking.

3. If TREC moves forward, the proposed rule is published in the Texas Register for public comment.

4. After public input, TREC may vote to adopt, amend, or reject the rule.

This is a structured, transparent process—and a powerful way to effect change.

Support From Texas REALTORS® and State Leadership

To ensure this initiative receives thoughtful consideration, Amber has also:

✔ Reached out to Texas REALTORS® leadership

requesting their formal review and support for the proposed rule.

✔ Contacted Texas State Representatives, including leadership on the House Licensing & Administrative Procedures Committee

which oversees TREC’s regulatory structure.

Building broad, statewide support is critical to ensuring this rule advances through the formal process.

Our Commitment to Transparency and Integrity

Black Label Real Estate Advisors was founded on values of clarity, professionalism, and client-first service. Advocating for meaningful improvements to our regulatory system reflects those values and our commitment to raising the standard for real estate in Texas.

We will continue to provide updates as TREC reviews the petition and the rulemaking process progresses. We look forward to working with industry partners, policymakers, and consumers who share the belief that transparency is essential for a strong, trustworthy real estate market.

If you would like more information about this initiative, our brokerage, or the rulemaking process, please contact us directly. We’re always here to educate, advocate, and serve our community with integrity.