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Consumers

Legislative Resources

HAAR Government Affairs activities are executed by the Outreach & Advocacy Department under direction of Officers, Directors, and relevant committees, workgroups or panels. Staff works with Local Political Coordinators(LPCs) to represent HAAR REALTORSĀ® in relationships with Madison County, Huntsville City, and Madison City officials.

Local legislative proposals are analyzed by LPC, staff, Officers and Directors to determine any potential impact on the real estate industry, private property rights and homeownership. Policy positions are ultimately approved by the Board of Directors.

Get Involved

For more information about how to serve as an LPC, please CLICK HERE to view our Local Political Coordinator Hub.

For questions about anything related to HAAR’s Government Affairs program, please see the contacts below:

For issues related to Madison County or Madison City, contact Sean Magers at 256.763.7798 or sean@valleymls.com.

For issues related to Huntsville City, contact Daniela Perallon at 256.489.2995 or daniela@valleymls.com.

Legislative Highlights

RPAC’s local influence and effectiveness is dependent on communicating the importance to members and demonstrating that their investment produces real returns for them and their business. Below are just a few legislative highlights that have saved REALTORSĀ® and their clients money and strengthened the local industry:

  • Defeating impact fees, up to $20,000 on each new construction in some cases, in the City of Madison.
  • Defeating a 4% sales tax levied statewide on real estate commissions.
  • Supporting a modest 12-mil property tax increase in the City of Madison, the entirety of which went to build new schools and improve existing facilities.
  • Supporting a special vote that cleaned up the tax code related to Huntsville City, ensuring that Huntsville tax dollars were supporting Huntsville schools as intended.
  • Working with FEMA to reopen and to locally begin underwriting the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) six days after the longest government shutdown in our nationā€™s history halted the program.
  • Instituting the First-time Homebuyer Savings Account, allowing qualified clients to save up to $50,000 in a tax-free savings account in banks across Alabama toward a down payment.

Positions and Talking Points

Please check back for future standing positions and talking points as approved by HAAR.
Disclaimer: Contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes. Contributions to RPAC are voluntary and are used for political purposes. You may refuse to contribute without reprisal and the National Association of REALTORSĀ® or any of its state associations or local boards will not favor or disfavor any member because of the amount contributed. 70% of each contribution is used by your state PAC to support state and local political candidates. Until your state reaches its RPAC goal, 30% is sent to National RPAC to support federal candidates and is charged against your limits under 2 U.S. C. 411a; after the state PAC reaches its RPAC goal it may elect to retain your entire contribution for use in supporting state and local candidates.