27 May Maryland Real Estate Commission Meeting – May 20, 2026 by Jacky Mueck MREC Updates 0 0 Comment 105 Below is a recap of items covered at the Commission’s May business meeting, including education standards, legislative concepts being considered, the revised Disclosure and Disclaimer form, team name advertising concerns, and the process utilized for anonymous advertising complaints. Education Standards and Instructor Evaluations The Education Committee will be revisiting student surveys for education courses. The current discussion appears focused on continuing education course evaluations, though pre-licensing education evaluations may also be considered in the future. Fingerprinting and Criminal Background Checks The MREC’s Legislative Committee heard a presentation on how another Maryland licensing board conducts fingerprinting and background checks. The Commission is exploring whether a similar process could be considered for real estate license applicants. A legislative proposal is expected to be developed for submission in July. Legislative Proposal - Broker Supervision Continuing Education The Commission voted to move forward with submitting a legislative proposal to the Department of Labor to restore the broker supervision continuing education requirement from 1.5 hours back to 3 hours. The discussion focused on concerns that 1.5 hours may not provide enough time for meaningful discussion, scenarios, questions, and practical supervision examples. This concept must still be approved internally through the Department of Labor and would require legislation before any change could take effect. Disclosure and Disclaimer Form The Commission reviewed public comments received on the draft Maryland Residential Property Disclosure and Disclaimer Form. While those comments will be considered in future revisions to the form, the Commission voted to approve the current draft to prevent further delays. The revised form’s effective date will be finalized following approval by the Secretary of Labor and publication in the Maryland Register. Team Names and Use of “Estates” Maryland law prohibits team names from containing “real estate,” “real estate brokerage,” or other terms that could lead the public to believe the team is offering brokerage services independently from the supervising broker. The Commission discussed whether a real estate team may use the word “Estates” in its team name without creating consumer confusion. While no formal vote was taken, brokers should continue reviewing team names and advertising carefully to ensure that team branding is clearly connected to the brokerage and does not imply independent brokerage services. Anonymous Advertising Complaints The Commission discussed whether changes should be made to the handling anonymous advertising complaints. Currently, the Executive Director reviews anonymous advertising complaints and supporting documentation. If the complaint involves a straightforward and correctable advertising violation, the licensee and broker are contacted, provided with the supporting materials, and generally given 30 days to correct or remove the advertising. More serious matters, such as advertising by an unlicensed individual, are handled as formal complaints. Several commissioners supported the current approach, noting that many advertising violations are routine, easily verified, and can be resolved efficiently through informal correction. Others expressed concerns about consistency and procedure. The Commission voted to revisit the issue at a future meeting. Next Meeting The next Commission meeting is on June 17, 2026 at 10:30 AM. 2026, May, MREC Share Showing 0 Comment Comments are closed.