Troubles build up for housing contractors
Another indicator of how the builder woes are rippling though the housing market is the number of complaints received by the Texas Residential Construction Commission, the agency that regulates home builders.  Duane Waddill, the TRCC’s executive director, said consumer complaints related to builders abandoning work sites or other financial issues like earnest money refunds made up 19 percent of the agency’s complaints in the last fiscal quarter, up from 14 percent in the previous three months.  “There’s clearly a major increase in the complaints we’re getting related to builders no longer in business,” he said.

Who supports the Texas Residential Construction Commission
The staff of the Sunset Commission after a 6-month indepth investigation recommended abolishing the TRCC. A list of those in support of this recommendation and those who were against abolishing was published in the report issued by the staff. Here is the list of those who are for abolishing the Commission... then the list in support of abolishing the TRCC:

Homebuilder who backs TRCC donated thousands to lawmakers deciding agency's fate
The fate of the Texas Residential Construction Commission, an agency designed to regulate and handle complaints against homebuilders, lies in the hands of lawmakers who received thousands of dollars from Houston homebuilder Bob Perry, one of the agency's top supporters.  The Legislature's Sunset Commission staff – which reviews state agencies and recommends how to beef them up – determined last year that the agency is so toothless and such a hindrance to aggrieved homeowners that it should be abolished. Since 2000, Perry, whose corporate attorney helped create the commission six years ago, has donated $388,000 to 10 of the 11 members of the Business and Industry Committee, state records show."Maybe the tail was wagging the dog," said Rep. Chente Quintanilla, D-El Paso, the only member of the House committee who has never received a donation from Perry.

Business & Industry Hearing - Rep. McClendon Sunset Bill 2295 
Executive Director Duane Waddill misrepresents facts. Consumers tell the true story of TRCC failures.
View Hearing video: 03-23-09: 3:46 p.m. - 9:49 p.m.

Texas Homebuyer/Consumer Bills Filed:Builder Licensing Bills, Aoilishment of TRCC, Lemon etc.  Sunset Bill by Rep. McClendon HB2295: Sunset Bill would empower the Builder’s TRCC agency the ability to Force Homeowner to Binding Mandatory Arbitration by law, giving homebuilder dominated agency "commission jurisdiction." Bill provides no incentive or penalty for the builder to assure compliance with standards or that a new home is built correctly at the time of sale. Builders maintain and enjoy multiple opportunities and rights to make repairs. Bill continues to mandate TRCC's current State Public Policy and authority that regulates homebuyers who purchase defective homes. Knowledge and financial responsibility remain optional or nonexistent for Texas homebuilders. See reviews and ratings

Representative Gattis Sets the Record Straight
At a Business and Industry hearing Executive Director Duane Waddill describes homeowner complaint as small things like wobbly ceiling fans. 1hr: 45 Gattis took exception calling it "disrespectful" if 91% of the time you find there is a defect.  The fallacy of a cease and desist order and contempt hearing.  25% to 50% of remodelers not registered. Waddill tries to claim credit actions taken in Jeryl , Tx where the sheriff and District Attorney pursued criminal prosecution of a builder. See House Committee Hearing: 02-23-09, 3:44 p.m. - 6:09 p.m.  Gattis hearing beginning at 1 hr. 44.50