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Why RPAC Matters In the last legislative session, the government affairs staff worked closely with Representative Ray Ward to draft HB 82 which established a statewide ADU policy. By Nigel Swaby Some people don’t realize it, but real estate is one of the most regulated industries in this country. In fact, it’s regulated at every level of government from Washington, D.C., to the smallest towns in the nation. Not only is our industry regulated, but our product is too! From building materials to energy to zoning to signage, every aspect of our business in real estate has governmental rules to follow.
in government relations at every level. The vehicle our industry uses is RPAC (Realtors® Political Action Committee). RPAC donations are distributed for use at the national, state and local board level. RPAC funds are used to donate to candidates who support our issues which helps establish relationships with elected officials. They’re also used to fund research grants on topics like impact fees and affordable housing.
Almost every real estate adjacent business faces the same sort of regulatory scrutiny. Appraisers, lenders, builders, title, home inspectors and insurance are all subject to an array of rules and regulations to help protect our clients.
As the chair of the Elections Subcommittee at the Salt Lake Board of Realtors®, I see firsthand how RPAC funds benefit our industry. While not every candidate we support will win, the interview process we go through allows us to meet just about every elected official and share our thoughts on housing issues as well as understand what their thoughts are.
It’s no surprise then that our boards and associations across the country invest heavily
18 | Salt Lake Realtor ® | May 2021
