REALTORS® from across Alabama traveled to Washington, D.C. last week to participate in the 2025 REALTOR® Legislative Meetings organized by the National Association of REALTORS®. The week consisted of engaging with members of Congress and other Capitol Hill representatives, advocating for REALTORS® and private property ownership, and attending informative educational sessions.

AAR President Margie Beth Shaw kicked off the event by delivering welcoming remarks to fellow REALTORS® from Alabama and Region 5 at the Alabama Welcome Reception. 

Federal Political Coordinators from Alabama, a group of REALTORS® assigned to build relationships with members of Congress, led discussions in various congressional offices on topics ranging from increasing the housing supply to maintaining independent contractor status.

The NAR Board of Directors met on Thursday to elect its 2026 officers and conduct other association business, which included approval of the 2026 budget with no dues increase. The approved budget also reallocates $35 of the special assessment fee for NAR's general operating account. The remaining $10 will go towards the Consumer Ad Campaign.

The board also amended Standard of Practice 10-5 of the Code of Ethics to align the definition of “harassment” with the NAR Member Code of Conduct and focus its application on instances in which members are operating within a professional capacity. You can read more on this change here.

Six Alabama REALTORS® were among those inducted into the RPAC Hall of Fame during the annual awards ceremony. Hall of Fame inductees have invested at least $25,000 in RPAC over the course of their career, and Alabama REALTORS® recognized for meeting that commitment were Morgan Ashurst of Fairhope, Dedra Cabaniss of Tuscaloosa, Thelma Dawson of Huntsville, Janet Hamm of Birmingham, Jim Lawrence of Birmingham, and Margie Beth Shaw of Birmingham. AAR is proud of all our members who were honored for their work to elect Pro-REALTOR® candidates.

Other highlights from the meeting included remarks from NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun on the June 2025 Real Estate and Economic Outlook and a video message from President Donald Trump.