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House approves HB16 requiring continuing education for real-estate license renewal
Summary
The Utah House passed HB16, a bill requiring minimum continuing-education for real-estate license renewals to keep practitioners current; sponsor Representative Bradford said the requirement is a modest public-protection measure. The bill passed the House 63–8 and was sent to the Senate.
Representative Bradford urged colleagues to support House Bill 16, saying the measure would require a minimum level of continuing education for licensed real-estate brokers and salespeople to keep practitioners aware of changes in law and practice. "As the complexity of real estate transactions has increased, the division with the support of the industry has continued to upgrade the level of education requirements," Bradford said in opening remarks.
Bradford told the chamber the bill emerged from the interim committee process with broad discussion and unanimous interim approval and said the Division of Real Estate would administer the requirements. He said some classes would be available through a division 'caravan' that travels around the state and that private providers meeting division criteria could offer courses as part of license renewal.
Representative Olson pressed the sponsor on cost and administrative burden, asking whether the change would require additional staff or create significant fees. Bradford said "this will not require any additional staff" and that some training could be accessed through division programming without cost, while private providers might charge fees.
Members debated whether the requirement could be a first step toward restricting entry to the profession. Representative Lewis asked whether the bill would "curtail any legitimate folks who would like to get into the business." Bradford said it was designed to maintain standards for those already licensed and "has no impact on those entering the industry." Representative Lee Allen asked about geographic access to the division's caravan; Bradford said it visited roughly 17 locations the prior year so licensees statewide could attend.
Representative Hunter asked whether the continuing-education classes would include testing. Bradford said tests were being designed for the courses and would require a minimum passing grade. Bradford and other supporters framed the measure as a public-protection step to reduce mistakes by licensees who do not keep current with changes in law and practice.
After debate and summation by the sponsor, the House opened and closed the vote. The chair reported that House Bill 16 received 63 affirmative and 8 negative votes; the bill passed the House and was referred to the Senate.
