Real Estate Appraiser Commission adopts rule changes, adds valuation-bias education requirement

The Tennessee Real Estate Appraiser Commission approved a package of rule amendments Wednesday that eliminate several fees, adjust trainee experience and log requirements, and add a new valuation‑bias and fair‑housing education requirement for appraisers.

Anna Matlock, associate general counsel with the Department of Commerce and Insurance’s Division of Regulatory Boards, opened the rule‑making hearing and summarized the proposed changes. “The proposed rules amend certain general provisions and reciprocity rules,” Matlock said, adding that the amendments also respond to an audit by the federal Appraisal Subcommittee.

Why it matters: commissioners said the package is intended to bring state rules into alignment with federal standards developed by the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) and to address items raised in a recent agency audit. Commissioners approved the package by roll call and asked staff to forward the finalized rules to the attorney general’s office and the secretary of state for the required review and publication steps that precede an effective date.

Key changes included in the package: the application upgrade fee was deleted; fees for temporary authorization for military applicants were eliminated; the reciprocal certificate issuance fee was reduced; experience and appraisal log requirements for registered trainees were amended; and education requirements for general certification were updated. The package specifically adds an 8‑hour valuation‑bias and fair‑housing course to qualifying education and establishes that the same topic will be required as continuing education (7 hours initial course plus a 1‑hour exam, then 4 hours every two calendar years).

Commissioners and staff stressed timing and next steps. Matlock walked the body through the statutory filing process required by Tennessee Code Annotated, noting the rules will be submitted to the governor’s office and then to the attorney general’s office for review; if approved they will be filed with the secretary of state and typically become effective 90 days after filing following the Joint Government Operations Committee review.

Votes at a glance - Motion to adopt the hearing rule language as presented — Motion by Brett Mansfield; roll call vote; approved (roll call: Taylor Vandever, Brett Mansfield, Will Hasten, Francie Mello, Sandra Tuck, Dr. Mark Sunderman, Eric Robinson — all voted yes). - Motion to adopt the regulatory flexibility addendum (TCA 4‑5‑401 through 4‑5‑404) — Motion and second; roll call vote; approved. - Motion to adopt the impact on local government statement (TCA 4‑5‑228) — Motion and second; roll call vote; approved. - Motion to adopt the additional information for the Joint Government Operations Committee (TCA 4‑5‑226) — Motion and second; roll call vote; approved. - Motion to adopt AQB criteria updates (education changes including valuation‑bias course and elective‑hour adjustments) — Motion and second; voice vote; approved.

What commissioners said: Executive Director Glenn Kopchick noted agency notice and outreach steps, including an eNotify sent to licensees and the posting of the proposed text on the program website. Matlock told the commission that some rule changes respond directly to federal requirements under FIRREA and AQB/AASC guidance and to an audit by the Appraisal Subcommittee.

Implementation and timing: staff said the package is intended to make Tennessee’s rules consistent with AQB criteria effective in 2026 and to allow course providers time to prepare the new valuation‑bias class. Matlock and staff recommended the commission approve the package now to stay on the timeline for a January 1, 2026 environment where new course requirements apply.

Background and scope: the rule package touches licensing fees, reciprocity and expedited registration provisions for military personnel, requirements for trainees and supervisory appraisers, and the hours and subject requirements for upgrades from trainee and licensed classifications to certified residential and certified general. The package also standardizes terminology (for example, changing the USPAP “update” reference to a continuing education label) and aligns elective‑hour totals to AQB guidance.

Next steps: staff will file the rules and the regulatory statements with the governor’s and attorney general’s offices and submit required materials to the Joint Government Operations Committee. If the attorney general and secretary of state sign off, the rules will be published and—barring committee objection—become effective after the statutorily required waiting period.

Ending: Commissioners framed the vote as an alignment step with federal criteria and an effort to avoid audit findings; staff said they will send additional notices to course providers and licensees ahead of the effective date so appraisers can plan for the new valuation‑bias training requirement.