National Association of REALTORS® Announces First Phase of Governance Updates to Streamline Committees and Strengthen Member Engagement

CHICAGO (April 1, 2026) - The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) today announced a set of initial governance changes designed to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of its governance by modernizing its committee structure, reducing duplication, and better aligning with member needs and industry priorities.

The changes, informed directly by member feedback and a comprehensive internal review, represent the first phase of a broader effort to strengthen NAR's governance model and ensure it reflects how the real estate industry operates today.

"These member-led updates are grounded in what we've heard from our members," said 2026 NAR President Kevin Brown. "REALTORS® have been clear that our governance system must evolve, becoming more focused, more effective, and more responsive. These changes mark an important first step."

The recommendations stem from a multi-source review conducted as part of NAR's Committee Excellence Program, a key initiative within the association's 2026-2028 Strategic Plan. The review included member surveys, leadership feedback, and a full audit of NAR's more than 95 committees, forums, councils, and advisory groups.

Findings from that process showed declining confidence in committee effectiveness, overlapping responsibilities across groups, and opportunities to better utilize member and staff time.

As a result, NAR's Leadership Team has approved a series of targeted "sunset" recommendations that will streamline the current structure by eliminating select committees and advisory groups whose functions are duplicative or better handled through existing channels or alternative models.

The following groups will be sunsetted as part of this initial phase:

Effective April 1, 2026:

• Large State Forum
• Medium State Forum
• Small State Forum
• State Leadership Idea Exchange Council
• Reserves Investment Advisory Board

Effective December 1, 2026:

• Amicus Brief Advisory Board
• Leading Edge Advisory Board
• Leadership Identification and Development Committee

These changes are expected to reduce structural redundancy, decrease appointment volume, and redirect member and staff resources toward committees and engagement opportunities that deliver the greatest strategic value.

Importantly, NAR emphasized that these updates are part of an ongoing process to evaluate and strengthen its governance framework. The association will continue engaging members, volunteer leaders, and stakeholders as it evaluates how to enhance effectiveness and transparency.

"This process is following a deliberate, data-driven approach," Brown added. "We are continuing to audit the system, follow the feedback, and identify where additional improvements can and should be made. These initial actions will inform further changes."

About the National Association of REALTORS®

The National Association of REALTORS® is involved in all aspects of residential and commercial real estate. The term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. For free consumer guides about navigating the homebuying and selling transaction processes-from written buyer agreements to negotiating compensation-visit facts.realtor.

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