What the government does affects your work. The Texas REALTORS® Governmental Affairs Department serves you by advocating for the best possible environment for your clients to buy, sell, and lease property.

The department stands up for real estate by supporting public policy, real estate-friendly candidates, grassroots advocacy, and issues affecting private property rights.

You may be familiar with the department’s work during sessions of the Texas Legislature. Team members analyze and track hundreds of bills and amendments and spend most days in the Texas Capitol, participating in hearings and working with legislators to make sure any laws that get passed support a healthy real estate economy and private property rights.

The department is highly involved in REALTOR® Day at the Texas Capitol. Staff create talking points and offer training so members can successfully engage with representatives. Legislators see how well organized, informed, and professional their REALTOR® constituents are, and it makes a big impression. 

The Texas REALTORS® Political Action Committee, TREPAC, is the largest grassroots PAC in Texas. It fundraises, offers support to candidates of both parties who stand up for private property rights and homeownership, and raises awareness about related issues.

The Governmental Affairs Department works on grassroots advocacy initiatives through the Texas REALTORS® Political Involvement Committee (PIC). Staff keep in touch with association members and local boards to learn which issues matter most to you. The PIC also works to recruit and interview candidates and drive voter turnout.

The Texas REALTORS® Issues PAC (TRIP) supports or opposes local issues that would have real estate implications. Members may reach out to their local association about something going on in their community. The local association will call a Texas REALTORS® field representative to get the process started.

Within Governmental Affairs, the Field Representatives Department serves as a liaison between the association and your region. The team also helps identify and recruit volunteers, conduct grassroots efforts to promote legislation, educate local association staff, and connect members with association resources.

“Governmental Affairs is about building and maintaining relationships to support and develop issues that foster sound public policy for property owners, creating an economy where REALTORS® can be successful,” says Tray Bates, Vice President of Governmental Affairs.  

The Governmental Affairs Department is:

Brandon Alderete, Director of Political Affairs; Tray Bates, Vice President of Governmental Affairs; Dahlia Brown, Director of Field Operations and Gulf Coast Field Representative; Veronica Canales, TREPAC Coordinator; Leslie Cantu, TREPAC Director; Zhelun Chen, TREPAC Manager; Triston Crossland, South Texas Field Representative; Rebecca Dupree, Governmental Affairs Department Coordinator; Andrea M. Friedman, Associate Director of TREPAC; Seth Juergens, Associate Director of Public Policy; Gregory Laudadio, East Texas Field Representative; Matthew Lipina, Central Texas Field Representative; Talecia Lott, TREPAC Staff Accountant II; Josh McDaniel, North Texas Field Representative; Julia Parenteau, Director of Public Policy; Ashlee Quick, Political Affairs Specialist; Michael Reeves, West Texas Field Representative; and Becky Smith, TREPAC Staff Accountant.