Wait, what?!? Yes, you read that headline right. In the latest legislative session, the State of Texas approved legislation that requires certain businesses to link to them with specific anchor text. I’ve heard of websites suing other websites for linking to them, but this, in fact, is just about the opposite of that.
I recently came across information that requires businesses that are licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission to link to a certain website that provides consumer protection. Here’s part of the notice:
Statutory changes made during the last legislative session authorized TREC to amend the consumer notice requirements for inspectors to provide greater clarity and enhanced consumer protection. The Commission adopted amendments to requirements for the consumer Information at its November 2015 meeting. These changes are effective February 1, 2016.
The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) now requires, Effective February 1, 2016, inspectors will also be required to include a link to that form on the homepage of their business website. The link must be in a readily noticeable place on the home page, in 10 point font and must be labeled “Texas Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection Notice.”
The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) regulates real estate brokers and sales agents, real estate inspectors, home warranty companies, easement and right-of-way agents, and timeshare interest providers. As of February 1, 2016, they are required to post the notice below at their place of business, but they also have to link to the notice and website, in a 10 point font, with the anchor text “Texas Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection Notice”.
This may be standard now in other States and in other industries, but this the first time that I’ve come across this requirement that was included in State legislation–along with the requirement that certain anchor text be used.