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Bill would create timeshare sales license; supporters call it workforce development
Summary
House Bill 2,373 would create a specialized timeshare sales license administered by the Oregon Real Estate Agency, including a pre-licensing course and continuing education focused on timeshare transactions. Proponents said the change will address coastal hiring shortages; the real estate industry and Realtors said they are working on technical
House Bill 2,373 would create a specialized timeshare sales agent license administered by the Oregon Real Estate Agency, with timeshare-focused pre-licensing education, a targeted licensing exam and continuing-education requirements tailored to timeshare sales.
Representative Shelly B. (Bossard) Davis, sponsor of the bill, told the House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection on Feb. 25 that Oregon law currently requires a full real-estate license to sell timeshares but that existing real-estate pre-licensing courses and broker tests do not cover timeshare-specific topics. She called the bill a workforce-development measure intended to help coastal timeshare employers recruit sales staff and to better prepare agents to protect consumers in timeshare transactions.
Sean Gillians, representing the American Resort Development Association, said the association and the Oregon Real Estate Agency collaborated on draft language and subsequent technical amendments; he said the bill will be placed in chapter 94 (the existing timeshare statute) and that legislative counsel will add cross-references to chapter 696 (real estate) so statutory placement does not impede regulation. Gillians described the measure as narrowly tailored and funded by license fees that the agency would set to cover program costs.
Thomas Cuomo of the Oregon Association of Realtors said the association’s remaining technical concerns had been or were being addressed in amendments and that internal member review was underway. Committee members asked whether the license would apply to timeshares sold in Oregon; Gillians said it would apply to timeshares sold in the state and noted modern point-based timeshare systems often sell access that can be used internationally but typically have a home-base inventory in-state.
The proponents emphasized consumer-protection connections: the proposed license would keep timeshare sales agents under the supervision of principal brokers, require targeted instruction and impose continuing education requirements tailored to timeshare sales. Supporters said the measure also would create middle-class job opportunities in coastal communities where timeshare firms have trouble recruiting sales personnel.
No opponents offered testimony in the hearing transcript and the committee closed the public hearing without recorded votes; sponsors said they expect to file technical amendments addressing placement in statute and other drafting questions before a work session.
Ending: The bill proceeds from a public hearing with proponents and agency engagement; legislative counsel and stakeholders will refine statutory placement and technical language in follow-up amendments.
