NAR Board of Directors Updates Standard of Practice 10-5 of the Code of Ethics; Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS Housing Policy Summit; AI’s Growing Influence in the Real Estate Industry
The 2025 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings just wrapped up this past Thursday, June 5th in Washington, DC. I was in attendance with Aspire North REALTORS® leadership CEO Alan Jeffries, President Deirdre Carroll, and Board President-Elect Doug Swartz. The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) has published numerous articles covering important happenings at the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings from May 31st to June 5th on the REALTOR® Magazine Media webpage, the NAR Newsroom webpage, and the Latest in Advocacy News section of the NAR Advocacy webpage. In addition to these articles, I have written on my three biggest takeaways from the 2025 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings.
1. NAR Board of Directors Updates Standard of Practice 10-5 of the Code of Ethics
At the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, June 5th changes were ratified to NAR Standard of Practice 10-5 and Professional Standards Policy Statement 29. The specific amendment language is listed below as it was ratified:
Standard of Practice 10-5
“REALTORS, in their capacity as real estate professionals, in association with their real estate businesses, or in their real estate-related activities shall not harass any person or persons based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.” (Adopted and effective November 13, 2020, Amended 1/23 and 6/25)
Professional Standards Policy Statement 29: Applicability of the Code of Ethics
“While REALTORS® are encouraged to follow the principles of the Code of Ethics in all of their activities, a REALTOR® shall be subject to disciplinary action under the Code of Ethics only with respect to their capacity as real estate professionals, in association with their real estate businesses, or in their real estate-related activities.” (Revised and effective November 13, 2020. Additionally revised June 5, 2025.)
There was “a lengthy and heartfelt stream of comments from (NAR) members” before the passing of these amendments with some members characterizing these amendments “as a step backward for the organization” (source: https://www.realestatenews.com/2025/06/05/nar-shifts-focus-of-controversial-hate-speech-rule). The updated standards are effective immediately.
2. Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS Housing Policy Summit
During the week of the REALTORS Legislative Meetings, local Washington, D.C. based REALTOR® association Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS held a Housing Policy Summit. This Housing Policy Summit provided a lot of great content on success stories specifically in the Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia on how they have been able to increase housing supply and housing options through Public-Private Partnerships, Zoning Reform, as well as identifying successful best practices from across the country. If you are interested in learning more on these successful best practices check out my full notes from the event here.
3. AI’s Growing Influence in the Real Estate Industry
With the integration of the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) Innovation, Opportunity, & Investment (iOi) initiative into the REALTORS Legislative Meetings this year a significant portion of iOi programming was focused on the beneficial uses of AI to the broader real estate community. REALTORS Legislative Meeting events covering AI included:
- iOi Innovation - AI-Powered Advocacy: Elevate Political Impact
- Canva: Your AI Real Estate Coach
- AE Professional Growth Forum: AI in Action - Smart Solutions for Association Success
- Adapting AI in Your Business - A Roadmap to Success
- iOi Innovation - Emerging Business Issues & Technology Forum: Legislative Intelligence - Harnessing AI to Track, Analyze & Act on Real Estate Bills
- iOi Innovation - Navigating AI in Real Estate: Boosting Efficiency and Managing Risk
- From Listings to Reels: Using AI to Power Real Estate Marketing
- Highlighting AI Innovators as a part of the 2025 iOi Innovators of the Year
Despite a prominent level of AI-focused programming at the REALTORS Legislative Meetings, there remained concerns expressed with AI at meetings. The Cybersecurity Awareness session expressed an expectation that AI videos will be the next big hacking concern. There is also recent news that some AI programs are evolving to a point where they are ignoring shutdown requests, blackmailing people, and uploading themselves to other servers to continue their existence. A message of cautious and intentional use of AI was preached in various REALTORS Legislative Meeting sessions and is likely to remain to important real estate topic for the foreseeable future.
