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Committee advances bill to bar single-agent representation in home sales
Summary
Sponsor says ban on dual agency will protect buyers after experiences where listing agents also represented buyers; Arkansas Realtors Association opposed the bill for lack of prior consultation and urged rulemaking first; committee passed the bill.
Senator Charles Beckham introduced Senate Bill 559 to prohibit a single real estate agent from representing both buyer and seller. Beckham said his own experience in a recent home purchase — including disputes over disclosures and missing utility easements — motivated the bill and that the change would ensure each side has separate representation.
Julie Mullenix, representing the Arkansas Realtors Association, testified she could not address technical details of the proposed intermediary provisions but opposed moving the bill forward without formal input from the Real Estate Commission and the Realtors Association. "We are opposed to the bill," she told the committee, adding that the commissions director had met with the sponsor earlier and the commission expected to review the issue before testimony.
Beckham told the committee the commission might adopt rules on April 12 that would address concerns, and he said he would withhold a floor run if an agreed rule change emerged; nevertheless, he asked the committee to move the bill one step forward so it would not be delayed beyond the session if rules did not resolve the issue.
The committee heard no additional registered testimony and moved to pass SB559 by voice vote.
