Two takeaways from the Board’s meeting on May 16, 2025: The Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB) is proposing new rule changes and wants to remind Texas appraisers to weigh in on the Appraisal Standards Board’s (ASB) call for comments. Details on those below.

But first, what kicked off the meeting was news from the Governor’s office. Governor Greg Abbott appointed two new Board members who are pending Senate Confirmation:

• Tony “Mark” Luna Jr. from Lubbock—appointed as an appraiser member to replace TALCB Chair Sara Oates from Lubbock.
• Clayton Ripley from Austin—appointed as a public member to replace Board Member Lisa Sprinkle.

Board Member R. Chance Bolton, who has served as an appraiser member since 2016, was appointed on May 19 by Governor Abbott to serve as Board chair. Governor Abbott also reappointed public member Stephanie Robinson, Ph.D.

Goodbye, Ms. Sprinkle

Sprinkle, of El Paso, is a retired paralegal. She served the Board as a public member and was also on the TALCB Education and Licensing Committee. Her term with the Board expired in January.

“On behalf of the Board, I thank her for her dedicated service. As her six-year term comes to a close, her legal expertise was certainly invaluable to our discussions. We certainly appreciate her willingness to volunteer her time and energy to committee work. She did that to serve her state of Texas. We have sincere gratitude for her exceptional service and commitment to Texas, appraisers, and all Texans. We wish her all the best.”

Chair Sara Oates

“She has participated on this Board as a really strong voice with public perspective, and with governance experience that has provided great value. I personally have felt very supported by Ms. Sprinkle and her encouragement and in her decision making. We’ll miss her voice in this room.”

TALCB Executive Director Chelsea Buchholtz

“Lisa was part of the education committee, and I was chair for a while. She always had very good insights that I definitely didn’t have, and it was always welcome. She would challenge us as a committee on different items that I may not have looked at the same as an appraiser. I appreciate her and we’ll miss her because we had very good discussions.”

Board Member Rolando Castro

Goodbye, Chair Oates

Chair Oates, of Austin, is a second-generation real estate appraiser. First appointed to the Board’s AMC Advisory Committee, Oates was appointed to serve as Board Chair in 2019 and part of the TALCB Executive Committee. Her term expired in January.

“When the governor appointed Chair Oates to this post, she was given a task. That task required a lot of strength, wisdom, and leadership to complete. The Chair has studied, poured over our materials, poured over our website, asked hard questions and she did not accept the status quo. She has led this board to stability, and she has empowered staff to create an efficient and customer-focused agency, the one that we see today. Her great efforts made a monumental difference. Chair Oates, I’m grateful for your belief in me and for your patience as we came along with you and for your diligence in asking those hard questions and making us all better. You have been kind and supportive and a wonderful leader to this board. It has been a pleasure to work with you and for you.”

Executive Director Chelsea Buchholtz

“Sara has been good to the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board. With clear vision, she saw changes that needed to be made. With the Board and staff, she made those changes. All I have to say is, today, it’s a great day to be an appraiser in the state of Texas. Thank you so much.”

Board Member Martha Gayle Reid Lynch

“I appreciate and thank you for your service. I appreciate your mentoring to me. I learned a lot. I appreciate your diligence here. You have made this a very great agency. Thank you.”

Board Member R. Chance Bolton

“I hope you are incredibly proud of what you’ve done because it’s been incredible leadership. I thank you for that.”

Board Member Stephanie Robinson, Ph.D.

“Dedication is something that comes to my mind when I think of you. I’ve been on several committees. You’ve been present at every one of those committee meetings ... I really admire you for that.”

Board Member Mark McAnally

“You saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. I was looking for something to better the appraisal profession. Somehow, some way, you came along and brought me up. It is that kind of scrutiny and diligence that signifies your leadership. I appreciate it and I thank you for the opportunity you gave me.”

Board Member Rolando Castro

“I joined the Board during COVID, which was hard enough because we weren’t having in-person meetings at the time. You took the time to reach out to me personally and have a long discussion with me about what the Board was and what we were tasked with. I really appreciate you doing that. You made my welcome great.”

Board Member Paola Escalante-Castillo

Provide Input for Your Profession

Both the ASB and the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) released concept papers this spring. The one still open for comment until May 31, 2025, is ASB’s: “Concept Paper: Generative AI and Appraisal Standards – A call for Stakeholders Input”.

AQB’s paper is “Additional Experience Options: Should They Have a Place in Appraiser Qualifications?” The AQB also has a job analysis survey which asks appraisers to provide feedback on the practice of real estate appraisal. The survey contains three parts that could take a total estimated time of 30 minutes to complete. The deadline to participate is May 31, 2025.

Exploring Another Pathway to Licensure: Practicum Courses

Because one of the biggest barriers to entry to the appraisal profession is how to get real-life work experience, the Board is researching how other states have established an approval process for practicum courses and their providers. The Board heard from Melissa Bond of Mississippi’s MPAT program—Mississippi Practicum Appraiser Training.

Proposed Rule Changes

Rule changes proposed by the Board fall under the quadrennial rule review and are meant to clean up the language. Others conform to education requirements outlined by the AQB. There are also proposed changes made as a result of the Board’s soon-to-launch license management system. This will help users submit information using an online process instead of paper forms.

The proposed changes will be considered for adoption in August. Use the online public comment tool to leave feedback on them now through July 6, 2025.

Meeting Materials

TALCB’s May 2025 meeting recording and materials are online.

The Board will meet again on August 8, 2025, at its headquarters in Austin. Those meeting details are on TALCB’s website. As the date approaches, meeting materials, the agenda, and a livestream link will be available on the same page.