2. AGENDA
• TREPAC Mission Statement • TREPAC working with other
• What is TREPAC? governmental affairs
• Why do we need it? programs
• What does TREPAC do for our • A-Team
industry? • REALTOR PARTY
• Two Types of PAC funds • Invest in TREPAC and
• Where do your PAC dollars go? Spread the Word!
• Who decides which candidates
get TREPAC money?
3. TREPAC MISSION
STATEMENT
TREPAC/Texas Association of Realtors®
Political Action Committee shall raise and
disburse funds to achieve the governmental
affairs objectives of the Texas Association
of Realtors® and to create a favorable
business environment where Realtors® can
make a profit, rights of property owners are
protected and the free enterprises system
flourishes.
4. WHAT IS TREPAC?
• Non-partisan political action committee
• TREPAC is a voluntary, nonprofit organization that
supports candidates for federal, state, and local office who
demonstrate their support for property rights and the real
estate profession
• The political action committee is insurance to protect your
livelihood and industry. Many issues affecting real estate
are continuously debated on the national, state and local
levels. Getting involved in TREPAC will ensure that the
REALTOR® voice is heard in Congress and at the
Capitol.
5. TREPAC
• TREPAC is the largest political action
committee in the state raising over $2.7M in
2009 with 43% participation.
8. TEXAS POWER PAC’S
2005-2006
1) Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee:
TREPAC $4.9M
2) Texans for Lawsuit Reform: TLR $3.8M
3) Texas Democratic Trust: $2M
4) Texans for Insurance Reform: $1.7M
5) Associated Republicans: $1.5M
9. TEXAS PAC’S
“Who’s in the Money”
2007-2008
1) Texans for Greg Abbott: $8M
2) TAR Issues Mobilization PAC $6.5M $10.4M
3) TREPAC: $3.9M
4) John Whitmire: $3.3M
5) Tom Craddick: $3.4M
6) Texans for Rick Perry: $2.9M
7) Friends of Susan Combs: $2.8M
8) Texans for Lawsuit Reform: $2.7M
Source: Texas Ethics Commission
14. WHY BE INVOLVED
IN GOVERNMENT?
• TREPAC enables the real
estate industry to
approach legislative
matters of vital concern
through a well-organized,
well-informed united
front.
• Through TREPAC,
Realtors® and others are
able to pool their
resources and help elect
candidates on a local,
state, and national basis.
15. WHAT DOES
TREPAC DO FOR
OUR INDUSTRY?
• TREPAC allows for the
election of persons who
are respondent to our
specific needs in the real
estate industry.
• By having a united
front, TREPAC can
have a greater impact on
elected officials because
of the sheer number of
participating members
from around the state.
19. Pick a message below to spread:
If you don't like new taxes you're going to like new real estate taxes even less.
Some county tax appraisers thought your vehicle should be taxed for mixed use.
You say your revenues are down this year?
There's a lot of talk about appraisal reform on the table at the Capitol.
Tired of being nickel-and-dimed?
We're not California or Florida.
How to spread the word | Tools | How Texas REALTORS® can invest
Federal law prohibits soliciting contributions from individuals who are not REALTOR® members. Information disseminated in the public domain about TREPAC might be
considered a solicitation, therefore investments received from non-REALTOR® members through this online campaign will be returned.
21. TREPAC Cont.
• TREPAC is the largest political action
committee in the state raising over $2.7M in
2009 with 43% participation.
• TREPAC is administered by a 43-member board
of trustees who are responsible for all PAC
operations and financial disbursements.
• Trustees are elected from each of the TAR
regions throughout the state to serve and
represent the local associations in that region
23. WHERE YOUR TREPAC
DOLLARS GO:
• Local Board Membership x TAR Fair
Share = Quota
• Ex: HAR Association
– 24,573 members x $35 = $860,055
24. WHERE YOUR TREPAC
DOLLARS GO:
• Before each local Board and Association reaches
their annual contribution quota, all eligible funds
are divided into three categories:
Before 75% of Local Quota is Met
20%
30%
NAR
TAR
Local
50%
25. WHERE YOUR TREPAC
DOLLARS GO:
• After each local Board and Association reach
their annual contribution quota, all eligible
funds are divided into three categories:
After 75% of Local Quota is Met
30%
NAR
TAR
60% Local
10%
26. TWO TYPES OF FUNDS:
Corporate & Personal
• As dictated by Federal law, dollars given by
an incorporated entity cannot be used for
campaigns, but can pay for the administrative
cost of raising the funds.
• Personal funds are those given by individual
Realtors and used for campaign contributions.
28. WHO DECIDES WHICH
CANDIDATES GET TREPAC
MONEY?
• Candidate Questionnaires are mailed out to each
board
• Local boards arrange and set up candidate
interviews
• Local boards submit their recommendation for
TREPAC support for state and national candidates
• TREPAC Trustees vote on local board and TAR
staff recommendations at the state level
• TREPAC Trustees vote on local board and TAR
staff recommendations at the national level, and
submit recommendations to the RPAC Trustees
29. TREPAC WORKING WITH
OTHER GOVERNMENTAL
AFFAIRS PROGRAMS OF TAR
• Funds invested in TREPAC are also utilized to
increase Realtor participation programs which
in turn, will increase the association’s
effectiveness and political strength.
30. A - TEAM
• Public Policy • 4 Legged Stool
– Formerly Legislative
Affairs
• Political Involvement
Council (PIC)
– Political Affairs
• Issues Mobilization
PAC/Advocacy Fund
• TREPAC
31. LANDMARK ACHIEVEMENTS
1993 Seller Disclosure Required a seller of
residential property to use a promulgated • Minimum Services Codifies regulations
property condition disclosure form, thereby relating to a minimum level of service a real
decreasing liability on the seller and real estate broker must provide to a consumer.
estate licensee
• Property Tax Reduction The largest in
1993 Lock Law Enhancements Superseded Texas history, reduces property taxes in
common-law requirements for residential excess of $15.7 billion by the year 2010.
tenant security by specifying what types of
security devices a landlord must provide to a 2007Tax on Personal Autos Exempts personal
tenant, thereby decreasing liability on vehicles that are also used for business
landlords and brokers. purposes for the production of income from
the required rendition for ad valorem tax
1995 Tort Reforms: DTPA Amendments A purposes.
number of pro-real estate amendments
passed, including: defendant can compel a 2009Property Appraisals The most significant
plaintiff to mediate; commercial real estate appraisal reform since 1979, provides
was effectively removed from DTPA liability; additional oversight, uniform standards and
improved additional proof requirements on helps to slow down the pace of increasing
property appraisals.
plaintiffs; and added penalties for the
plaintiff’s refusal of reasonable settlements
2009Transfer Tax Defeated multiple proposals to
1999 Commercial Lien Commercial brokers and tax real estate, including several bills
requiring the creation of a tax on every deed
appraisers may secure a commission with a recorded by the county clerk.
lien against the property.
1999 Licensing of Mortgage Brokers Mortgage
brokers for the first time are licensed by the
state of Texas for the benefit of consumers.
32. DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
INVESTMENT
• $5,000 Golden R
• $2,500 Crystal R
• $1,000 Sterling R
• $500 Capitol Club
• $250 Lone Star Statesman
• $99 '99 Club Member
• $35 Sustaining Member
