Consumer made two tactical mistakes
Perry Homes is one of Texas’ best-known homebuilding companies. Owner Bob Perry of Houston is a philanthropist who donates millions to charities. He donates millions to Texas politicians, too. In fact, he is among the largest political contributors in the country...Many of the recipients are state legislators who now face decisions on a slew of bills recently filed that would toughen the Texas Residential Construction Commission’s enforcement powers. The TRCC, created in 2003, is supposed to help homeowners and builders resolve construction-related disputes through a state-mandated process. Critics say the commission is biased in favor of builders. Builders say the commission was designed to resolve disputes with homeowners and avoid costly lawsuits.

Texas House State Affairs Hearing on Home Lemon Law, First in Nation to be Considered
Monday, March 19, 2007 the House State Affairs will hear testimony on 12 bills.  One is the Home Lemon Law, which would give an incentive to build a home right the first time or be forced to buy a house back if the builder failed to make repairs.  The committee will consider how to solve the chronic problem of substandard building in Texas . One bill if passed would abolish the troubled Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC).  Other bills  would beef up registration requirements for builders to demonstrate knowledge and financial responsibility and give enforcement powers to the TRCC.

Texas Representative Craig Eiland files HB 3269 a bill to abolish the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC).  
Ask most State lawmakers privately and most will agree that TRCC was a big mistake and should be abolished.  Ask any homeowner who has experienced having to endure the punishing so-called “dispute resolution” process of TRCC and all would agree that the agency should be abolished.  In the waning hours of the bill filing deadline Rep. Craig Eiland surprised everyone.  See HB 3269 

Rep. Todd Smith's HB 2008
Bill Incorporates the Recommendations of Carole Keeton Strayhorn, Texas Comptroller Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC) Report, January 23, 2006.

KVUE Defenders Look at Liens in Austin
An eye opening look at what can happen to the title on your home - if you're not paying attention. Could you have liens on your property that you don't know about? The builder of a popular Northwest Austin subdivision admits he owes tens of thousands of dollars in liens, that blanket his entire subdivision of about 80 homes. And several homeowners tell KVUE that's just the beginning of their concerns.  See Defenders Report

Consumer Advocates Applaud Representative Todd Smith for filing House Bill 2008
House Bill 2008, authored by Representative Todd Smith (R-Bedford), would greatly assist homeowners by enacting critical and necessary reforms to the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC), according to consumer groups.  A major complaint against the TRCC is that homeowners are required to go through its inspection and dispute resolution process before they can pursue legal action against an unscrupulous or incompetent builder. “In the four years that the TRCC has been operating, it has often been a hindrance rather than a help to Texas homeowners,” said Jeff Brooks, advocate for the Texas Public Interest Research Group (TexPIRG). “House Bill 2008 would go a long way towards transforming the TRCC into an agency which can best serve the needs of ordinary Texas citizens.”