Changes to the NAR Code of Ethics

Louisiana REALTORS • November 26, 2019

The National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors made changes to the Code of Ethics at their November 2019 meeting in San Francisco.

REALTORS® have been required to take Code of Ethics training in order to keep their membership since 2001. How often a REALTOR must complete the training has changed a few times since then. The most recent change extends the training requirement from every two years to every three years and extends the current Cycle 6 deadline from December 31st, 2020, to December 31st, 2021. It’s important to note that this requirement is separate from the CE requirement for Louisiana real estate license renewal. In addition, while some education vendors in our state have the Code of Ethics approved for CE credit, it does not necessarily mean a local association will accept it as their Code of Ethics requirement. In the future, only NAR and local associations will be approved to offer Code of Ethics Training.

Prior to the NAR board meeting, the NAR Leadership Team heard and approved recommendations from the Presidential Advisory Group that did not require a vote by the Board of Directors. These include:

·        That the learning objectives for the existing-member Code of Ethics training be revised to include content on professional conduct, courtesies, business etiquette, and real-life scenarios.

·        That NAR establish Code of Ethics training equivalency options that members can take to satisfy the Code of Ethics training requirement, and that the Commitment to Excellence (C2EX) endorsement be an equivalency option.

·        That only courses and equivalencies provided by a local, state, or national REALTOR® association can satisfy the Code of Ethics training requirement.

·        That an implementation team be appointed to develop a microsite that compiles all available options for fulfilling the Code of Ethics training requirement, including C2EX ethics modules, NAR-approved online courses, and links to association-approved courses.

·        That the Core Standards requirements be amended to clarify an association's duties regarding administration of the Code of Ethics training requirement.

Regarding Professional Standards, a new Standard of Practice was adopted under Article 3 that REALTORS® may not refuse to cooperate on the basis of a broker's race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

For more information on the changes made at the November 2019 NAR Board of Directors meeting, view this NAR Special Report .

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2026 Legislative Session Scoop - Week 1 Recap

By Louisiana REALTORS® • March 13, 2026
Louisiana’s 2026 Regular Session opened this week with several developments that matter directly to REALTORS ®, property managers and housing providers, alongside some broader political shifts worth watching. HB 292: Security Deposit Return Timelines Rep. Delisha Boyd’s HB 292, which addresses procedures for returning residential security deposits, was deferred to next week. This provides additional time for stakeholders to engage with members on practical impacts for lease administration, move out inspections and documentation standards. We’ll continue working to ensure any changes to deposit law are clear, workable and do not expose housing providers to unreasonable liability. Land Use and Development: St. James Parish Decision The Louisiana Supreme Court’s recent St. James Parish decision significantly tightens the standards for overturning local land use decisions, reinforcing that zoning and permitting authority rests with parish and municipal governments as long as their decisions are not arbitrary or capricious. For real estate and development, that means more predictability if projects are aligned with adopted plans and ordinances, but also higher stakes in local elections, planning processes and parish-level negotiations. Governor’s State of the State In his State of the State address, Governor Jeff Landry reiterated his push to phase out the state income tax, expand the LA GATOR and MJ Foster scholarship and workforce programs, and replace vehicle inspection stickers with a QR code system. These programs frame a debate around long-term competitiveness, workforce readiness and household cost of living which are all key drivers of housing demand and migration patterns. Business & Market Trends The business community is focusing the session on insurance, workforce and energy. Commercial and property insurance costs remain a top concern for employers and property owners, and we are monitoring civil justice and insurance reform proposals that could affect market stability and availability. At the same time, Louisiana is seeing more than $100 billion in announced industrial and data center projects, which could reshape local markets, labor conditions and housing needs in multiple regions of the state. Please view the weekly bill tracking report at the link below provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.
Louisiana real estate regulations are designed to protect consumers

How Real Estate Regulations and Recent Policy Updates Protect Louisiana Homebuyers

By Louisiana REALTORS® • March 11, 2026
Learn how Louisiana real estate regulations, disclosure laws, and licensing standards help protect homebuyers and create safer, more transparent transactions.

2025 Awards Nominations

By Louisiana REALTORS® • March 9, 2026
Nominations are open now through April 24, 2026, for the Louisiana REALTORS® 2025 REALTOR® of the Year & the 2025 Lawrence R. DeMarcay, Jr. Distinguished Service Award. Both awards are aimed to showcase an individual who has volunteered their time in service to the real estate industry. Recipients of the awards will be recognized during the Spring Legislative Conference. (Registration coming soon!) Please see the below links with the selection criteria and consider submitting a nomination today. Contact Donna Teekel at (225) 224-0704 or dteekel@larealtors.org with any questions.
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