88R11850 MAW-F
 
  By: Raney H.B. No. 4126
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the regulation of future listing right purchase
  contracts; imposing a fee; requiring an occupational registration.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 1101, Occupations Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter R to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER R. FUTURE LISTING RIGHT PURCHASE CONTRACT
         Sec. 1101.851.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Future listing right purchase contract" means a
  contract entered into between a purchasing company and an owner of
  real estate that obligates the owner to enter into a real estate
  listing agreement with a particular person for the future sale of
  that real estate.
               (2)  "Purchasing company" means a person who purchases
  or offers to purchase a future listing right for real estate.
         Sec. 1101.852.  REGISTRATION REQUIRED. (a) A person may not
  act as a purchasing company unless the person is registered with the
  commission.  A future listing right purchase contract is not
  enforceable if the purchasing company is not registered at the time
  the contract is executed.
         (b)  The commission by rule shall establish eligibility
  requirements for registration.
         (c)  An applicant for registration must submit an
  application on a form prescribed by the commission and pay a $7,500
  application fee.
         (d)  A registration is valid for two years. 
         (e)  A person may renew an unexpired registration by paying
  to the commission a renewal fee of $5,000.
         Sec. 1101.853.  SURETY BOND. The commission may require a
  registration holder to maintain a surety bond payable to the
  commission in an amount prescribed by commission rule, not to
  exceed $50,000, for the benefit of a party who suffers damages
  caused by the failure of the registration holder to fulfill
  obligations under this subchapter.
         Sec. 1101.854.  PROHIBITED PRACTICES. A registration holder
  may not:
               (1)  intentionally advertise materially false
  information regarding the registration holder's products or
  services; or
               (2)  contract for the right to establish the sales
  price for real estate subject to a future listing right purchase
  contract.
         Sec. 1101.855.  FUTURE LISTING RIGHT PURCHASE CONTRACT;
  FORM.  (a) The term of a future listing right purchase contract may
  not exceed 30 years.
         (b)  A future listing right purchase contract must:
               (1)  include a provision authorizing:
                     (A)  the real estate owner to cancel the contract
  without penalty or further obligation not later than the fifth
  business day after the date of funding by providing notice to the
  purchasing company and returning the full amount of any disbursed
  funds; and
                     (B)  a person who inherits the real estate on the
  death of the owner to cancel the contract not later than the 90th
  day after the date of the owner's death by providing notice to the
  purchasing company and returning the full amount of any disbursed
  funds;
               (2)  state that the purchasing company has no right to
  establish the sales price for the real estate subject to the
  contract or to compel the owner to sell the real estate;
               (3)  state the purchase price and all charges and fees
  to be paid under the contract; and
               (4)  require that a copy of the executed contract be
  provided to the owner not later than the seventh business day after
  the date the owner signs it.
         (c)  A future listing right purchase contract may be recorded
  on the property to which it relates in the same manner as an
  easement or mortgage.
         (d)  The commission shall adopt a form for a future listing
  right purchase contract that may be used by a registration holder.
         Sec. 1101.856.  ASSIGNABILITY. A future listing right
  purchase contract is assignable by the purchasing company.
         Sec. 1101.857.  APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. A future listing
  right purchase contract is not subject to state law governing loans
  or investment contracts.
         Sec. 1101.858.  ENFORCEMENT. If a court determines that a
  purchasing company has wilfully violated this subchapter by
  deception in regard to entering into a future listing right
  purchase contract, that contract is unenforceable.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.