Winter 2025

The biggest set of Oregon real estate license law changes in seven years took effect on January 1, 2026. HB 3137 and HB 2373, passed in the 2025 legislative session and implemented through OREA permanent rules adopted in late 2025, are now operative.

Three practical changes are in force as of January 1, 2026. Managing principal broker designation: every Oregon registered business name (RBN) now requires exactly one designated managing principal broker who carries statutory responsibility for the conduct of all associated brokers and branch offices under that RBN. The supervising-broker model that allowed loose attribution of broker activity across multiple principal brokers in a single firm is replaced with a single accountable designee. Team formation: real estate teams (one or more licensees operating under an RBN using a team name distinct from the RBN) must be approved by the managing principal broker before formation. Timeshare sales agent license: a narrower license category is now available for individuals selling only timeshares; timeshare-only agents must be supervised by a managing principal broker and their experience does not count toward principal broker requirements.

Firms that did not designate a managing principal broker before January 1, 2026 should resolve the gap quickly to avoid enforcement exposure; any timeshare sales operations should map agents to the new license structure. The Stoel Rives client alert covers the compliance gaps most firms will see; OREA's New Real Estate License Laws and Rules Effective January 1 page is the agency's primary-source briefing for licensees.