House committee approves changes to Alabama real estate licensing rules, including one-year listing limit

A House committee approved a bill to revise multiple Alabama real estate licensing provisions, lawmakers said during committee proceedings.

Representative Kiel presented the bill and described several key provisions: licensees who write a bad check would have 30 days to make the check good without immediately losing their license; the bill addresses dual agency relationships; it sets a one-year limit on residential listing agreements so sellers are not bound indefinitely; it clarifies the "team" concept while affirming that teams remain accountable to the qualifying broker; and it removes a restriction that limited agents to meeting only at the office where the qualifying broker is located, allowing agents to use any of the agency's offices.

During the meeting a committee member raised a technical error in the bill's section numbering on page 57. The committee considered and adopted a technical amendment to correct the sections. The amendment was moved and seconded, and adopted by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

After the amendment passed, the bill as amended was moved by Representative Clark and executed by Representative Sellers; the committee approved the bill as amended by voice vote. The transcript records members answering "aye" and records no opposition.

A committee member asked whether the one-year listing term prevents shorter contracts; Representative Kiel said sellers could contract for a shorter term and that the legislation contemplates that possibility. A member also asked how the bill's 30-day cure period for a bad check would interact with local disciplinary procedures; a speaker noted that the real estate commission already has disciplinary authority and the bill would not remove that commission authority.

The transcript does not include the bill's final number, fiscal notes, or implementation timetable. The committee adjourned after approving the bill as amended.