Thoughts about ARELLO® Legal Exchange

As we head into March, I want to share a high-level look at one of the most important ways ARELLO supports its members: bringing regulators, counsel, and staff together to compare notes on what is changing, what is working, and what is coming next.

Our upcoming ARELLO Law & Education (ALE) conference is shaping up to be a practical, working conference focused on real-time issues that jurisdictions are navigating right now. A major theme this year is emerging state and federal ...

States Move to Strengthen Deed Fraud Protections

Concerns over deed fraud and title theft are prompting renewed legislative activity across several states, reflecting a broader effort to protect property owners from unauthorized transfers and forged documents. Deed fraud schemes often involve falsified deeds or impersonation that result in the improper recording of ownership changes, leaving victims facing costly and complex legal remedies.

A law set to take effect in California on January 1, 2027, requires counties ...

Hawaii Bill Addresses Private Listings and Off-Market Real Estate Sales

As seen in the February Boundaries, Washington state is currently running a bill restricting Private Listings. Similar legislation is also advancing in Hawaii. The legislation would place new requirements on private and off-market residential real estate listings, reflecting a broader national focus on transparency, consumer access, and fair housing considerations. Senate Bill 2806, introduced during Hawaii’s 2026 legislative session, proposes limits on how and when real ...

Illinois Reintroduces Pocket Listings Bill

Illinois has reintroduced a bill regarding pocket listings. House Bill 4964 revises a proposal that failed to advance last year and reflects a more limited approach than earlier efforts. While recent Boundaries coverage has focused on private listing networks, which involve properties marketed with restricted visibility, the Illinois proposal instead addresses pocket listings, where a property is not publicly marketed at all.

HB 4964 was filed during the 104th General Assembly and ...

Florida Renews the Consolidation Debate

State legislatures continue to examine how occupational licensing boards are structured, including whether real estate commissions should operate as independent entities or be placed under broader umbrella agencies. These discussions reflect ongoing policy questions about regulatory efficiency, accountability, and the value of profession specific expertise in protecting consumers.

Recent legislative proposals illustrate this tension. In Florida, lawmakers filed HB 607, which ...