Hive MLS Declaration of Stewardship Principles explained

Hive MLS CEO Daniel Jones introduced a proposed 'MLS constitution' to establish a common foundation for what an MLS is, what it protects, and its responsibilities amid industry confusion. The Declaration of MLS Stewardship Principles was published on September 22, 2026, one week before the Council of Multiple Listing Services gathers in Fort Lauderdale for its annual conference. Jones argues the MLS does not own the marketplace but stewards it, offering nine principles intended to apply across all ownership structures, governance models, and technologies.

The declaration arrives as MLS leaders confront fundamental questions involving private listing strategies, cooperation, public marketing, data ownership and licensing, artificial intelligence, and consolidation. It is not a federation proposal, consolidation effort, or anti-NAR initiative. Instead, Jones describes it as a common foundation any MLS can stand on. Hive MLS, which represents over 19,450 brokers and appraisers across six Southeastern states, has published the declaration online and invites the industry to sign and support it.

Jones on the cooperative marketplace vs. Public marketing

Jones emphasized that the MLS stewards a cooperative data environment where brokers share information, while public marketing decisions remain with individual brokerages. He warned against conflating the two, stating this confusion is a current source of tension. The MLS provides the infrastructure through which brokers cooperate on behalf of buyers and sellers, creating a level playing field with shared information and consistent rules. Public marketing, however, belongs to brokers serving their clients.

He illustrated the cooperative marketplace as an 'iron-sharpens-iron' environment where participants can correct data errors. Once a listing is active, display and marketing are between the brokerage and the seller. When it closes in the MLS, it becomes part of a compiled data set. Jones stated that brokerages have full autonomy. Daniel Jones said: "Brokerages can do basically whatever they want to. They don’t even have to join the MLS. There’s nothing that requires them to."

The MLS acts as a public ledger visible to participants. Whether that data is visible beyond the MLS in the public marketing arena is up to the brokers. Jones noted that if brokers want to use office exclusives or private listing networks, they are welcome to operate outside the MLS framework.

Broker autonomy and the future of MLS cooperation

Jones affirmed that brokerages can operate outside the MLS, including through private listing networks, which he sees as a return to the MLS's original formation based on brokerage-to-brokerage relationships. He argued the MLS must steward data use-especially as it relates to AI and syndication-by licensing and authorizing data to maintain a chain of custody. MLSs should respect a broker's choice to opt out of syndicating listing data to third-party portals.

He expressed concern that the industry has lost the core definition of an MLS, now often conflated with the software platform used to enter data. Jones hopes the declaration will encourage thinking beyond platform boundaries and service areas, fostering a return to direct brokerage relationships. He believes MLSs that fail to build on these relationships risk becoming dissipated within five years.

The effort was influenced by industry figures including Michael Wurzer, Nicole Jensen, and Andrew Coca. Supporters who use the 'Sign and Support' feature on the declaration website receive a PDF copy. The declaration is being promoted ahead of the CMLS Open House 2026 in Fort Lauderdale, where topics like data governance, AI, and consolidation are expected to be discussed.