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The Real Estate Council is
actively monitoring issues at the state and local level that impact
the commercial real estate industry and our partners. Our mission is
to build a better city – and public policy is an essential component
of that vision.
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Next January, the 90th
Texas Legislature gavels in, but in 2026 voters will decide who will
shape Texas policy for the next two years. This election cycle
includes statewide offices, such as governor and lieutenant governor,
as well as every seat in the Texas House and half of the Texas
Senate. For the first time in decades, both parties are fielding
candidates in nearly every legislative race, making November far more
competitive and the primaries more consequential.
Primary Election Day is Tuesday, March 3, which determines the
candidates who will appear on the November general election ballot.
The deadline to register to vote is Monday, February 2, and early
voting runs from Tuesday, February 17, through Friday, February 27.
Verify your voter registration, review your sample ballot, and find
polling locations through Dallas County Elections.
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Invest in TREC PAC
Help protect the commercial real estate industry and make a
difference in the communities where you build, live, and work by investing in TREC PAC. TREC PAC is North Texas’s leading
advocate for commercial real estate, with a strong track record of
backing winning candidates who shape land use, housing,
infrastructure, and tax policy. Through targeted endorsements,
strategic contributions, and direct engagement with elected
officials, TREC PAC helps advance sound policy, push back
against harmful regulations, and promote responsible development and
long-term economic growth across the region.
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Dallas Housing Finance
& Public Facility Program Statements Update
The City of Dallas is moving forward with updated program
statements governing the Dallas Housing Finance Corporation (DHFC)
and the Dallas Public Facility Corporation (DPFC). After multiple
briefings, workshops, and stakeholder input throughout 2024–2025, the
Housing and Homelessness Solutions Committee reviewed proposed
amendments on October 21, 2025, setting the stage for City Council
consideration. These updates are intended to clarify application
standards, strengthen City oversight, align projects with adopted
housing priorities, and reflect recent state law changes affecting
housing finance corporations. Staff is expected to brief the
committee on revised drafts in January and the City Council will
consider the proposed statements shortly after.
Development Code Rewrite
Dallas is undertaking a comprehensive rewrite of its
Development Code for the first time since the 1960s. Following the
release of the Diagnostic Report in March 2025 and a series of public
meetings, Camiros, the city's consultant, is drafting a new Chapter
63 to replace the current development code or Ch. 51A. TREC
established a dedicated working group to closely monitor its progress
and provide essential industry feedback, with a public draft
tentatively expected in March of 2026.
City Meetings
View upcoming city meetings here.
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AT&T Relocation
On January 5, AT&T announced it will
build a new global headquarters in Plano, ending months of
uncertainty about its long-term presence in Dallas. The 54-acre
campus at 5400 Legacy Drive
is expected to partially open as early as the second half of 2028 and
is designed to consolidate the company's major DFW administrative
offices.
Mayor Eric Johnson and City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert released a
statement emphasizing that
AT&T's decision reflects a preference for a suburban-style
campus, not a weakening of Dallas' economic strength. They
highlighted recent gains in public safety, homelessness reduction,
lower property taxes, streamlined regulations, and billions in new
development, noting that AT&T's transition will be gradual and
the company will remain connected to Dallas in the years ahead.
The Future of Dallas City Hall
On November 12, Council
approved a resolution directing the City Manager to complete
additional due diligence related to maintenance needs ofDallas City
Hall, the economic development value of the site, and the projected
cost of moving City Hall. The City Manager engaged the
Dallas Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
to conduct much of its due diligence, and these reports are due in
February. Broadly, the development community and the preservation
community are at odds over the future of City Hall. TREC is closely
monitoring the debate as it impacts the future of downtown.
The Future of DART
Several North Texas
cities are reassessing their participation in
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), with multiple member cities moving
toward or considering voter elections on whether to withdraw funding
from the regional transit system, citing concerns around sales tax
contributions, service levels, governance, and financial
sustainability. TREC is continuing to monitor the debate, City
Council decisions, and potential ballot measures, along with the
potential impact these actions could have on transportation options
and the viability of transit-oriented development across North Texas.
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Tuesday, February 3|Public
Policy Committee Meeting
February 17 - February 27 | Early
Voting in Primary Elections
March 3 | Primary Election Day
View all upcoming events here.
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Manage Your Preferences
The
Real Estate Council
3100 McKinnon Street, Suite 1150 Dallas, TX 75201
214.692.3600 | recouncil.com
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