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Nasdaq Texas Proposes Monthly Review of Professional Orders

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Summary

Nasdaq Texas, LLC filed a proposed rule change with the SEC to modify the review period for Professional order designations from quarterly to monthly. Under the proposal, participants must review customer order activity and update designations within five days after each calendar month rather than each calendar quarter. The SEC is soliciting comments on the proposal, which has a proposed implementation date of July 1, 2026.

Why this matters

Broker-dealers already perform daily calculations for the 390-order daily average threshold. The proposal does not require new computation infrastructure but demands monthly designation updates rather than quarterly updates. Firms relying on quarterly batch-processing workflows should confirm their systems can support monthly reviews and the compressed five-day response window after each month-end.

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What changed

Nasdaq Texas proposes to shorten the Professional order designation review cycle from quarterly to monthly. The 390-orders-per-day threshold remains unchanged, but participants would need to update customer designations within five days after each calendar month-end rather than quarter-end. The technical amendments (reserving Options 3B, 3C, and 4D, and correcting a citation in Options 2, Section 5(d)(1)(D)) would become operative 30 days after filing.

Broker-dealers currently performing daily calculations to track the 390-order average should note that the underlying computation workflow does not change. The primary operational impact is the compressed designation window—five days per month rather than five days per quarter—requiring more frequent compliance reviews. Firms relying on quarterly batch processing should assess whether internal systems can support monthly designation updates by the July 1, 2026 compliance date.

Archived snapshot

Apr 21, 2026

GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.

Content

April 15, 2026. Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”), (1) and Rule 19b-4 thereunder, (2) notice is hereby given that on April 1, 2026, Nasdaq Texas, LLC (“Nasdaq Texas” or “Exchange”) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III, below, which Items
have been prepared by the Exchange. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change
from interested persons.

I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

The Exchange proposes to amend the quarterly review of Professional (3) orders.

The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's website at https://listingcenter.nasdaq.com/rulebook/nasdaqtx/rulefilings, and at the principal office of the Exchange.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule
change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the
most significant aspects of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose

The Exchange proposes to amend the quarterly review of Professional orders. Today, orders for any Public Customer (4) that average more than 390 orders per day during any month of a calendar quarter must be represented as Professional orders
for the next calendar quarter. (5) In order to properly represent orders entered on the Exchange, Participants (6) are required currently to review their Public Customers' activity and, on at least a quarterly basis, designate orders as
Public Customer orders or Professional orders. 7 Specifically, Participants are required to conduct a quarterly review and make any appropriate changes to the way in which
they are representing orders within five days after the end of each calendar quarter. (8) While Participants are required to designate accounts on a quarterly basis, if during a quarter the Exchange identifies a
customer for which orders are being represented as Public Customer Orders but that has averaged more than 390 orders per day
during a month, the Exchange must notify the Participant and the Participant is required to change the manner in which it
is representing the customer's orders within five days. (9)

Proposal

At this time, the Exchange proposes to shorten the quarterly review and designation to a monthly review. The Exchange proposes
to state at Options 1, Section 1(a)(48)(ii) that orders for any customer that had an average of more than 390 orders per day
during any calendar month must be represented as Professional orders for the next calendar month.

As noted, currently, each Participant is required to monitor Public Customer orders to determine if the Public Customer has
averaged more than 390 orders per day during a month. Determining whether a Public Customer has executed more than 390 orders
per day during a month requires computing a daily average. As such, Participants should be performing the workflow necessary
to designate orders on a daily basis. Therefore, the proposal does not amend the current workflow, rather, the proposal amends
the timeframe to change the manner in which the customer's order is being represented from five days after the end of each
calendar quarter to five days after the end of each calendar month.

The Exchange does not believe that this amendment is a significant departure from the current rule, nor does it impose any
burden on any Participant because each broker-dealer is required currently to perform the necessary calculation daily to arrive
at the requisite average. Further, in addition to the calculation, broker-dealers are subject to know-your-customer and suitability
requirements under FINRA Rules 2090 (Know Your Customer) and 2111 (Suitability) and would need to consider whether a customer
meets the Professional designation for purposes of determining best execution and making appropriate recommendations. The
Exchange notes that the trading behavior of a Public Customer can be distinguished from that of a Professional which is the
purpose of the separate designations. Finally, some Participants currently designate a Public Customer that has averaged more
than 390 orders per day during a month as a Professional on a more expedited basis, not waiting until five days after the
quarter.

The Exchange believes that a calendar month is a sufficient time period to determine whether the activity of a customer meets
the criteria for a Professional order. The Exchange believes that the shortened time period will ensure that the spirit of
the designation of Professional order is met in that Participants will make any appropriate changes to the way in which they
are representing orders in a 30-day timeframe as opposed to a 90-day timeframe, thereby ensuring the designation is applied
in a more expeditious manner.

The Exchange continues to believe that identifying Professional orders based upon the average number of orders entered in
qualified accounts is an appropriate and objective approach to reasonably distinguish such persons and entities from retail
investors or market participants.

Technical Amendment

The Exchange proposes to reserve Options 3B, Options 3C and Options 4D and add a reserved section to Options 9, Section 26.
Other Nasdaq affiliated exchanges have a rule or proposed rules in those corresponding sections of the Rulebook. The reserved
sections are intended to harmonize the structure of the Exchange's rules to those of other Nasdaq affiliated exchanges. Further,
the Exchange proposes a non-substantive amendment to Options 2, Section 5(d)(1)(D) to correct a citation.

Implementation

The Exchange proposes implementing this rule change on July 1, 2026, except for the technical amendments which should become
operative 30 days after the date of the filing. The Exchange will issue an Options Trader Alert to provide notice to Participants
of the proposed change.

2. Statutory Basis

The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the Act, (10) in general, and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act, (11) in particular, in that it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect
the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general to protect investors and the public
interest.

The Exchange's proposal to shorten the quarterly look-back to a monthly look-back is consistent with the Act because it will
ensure that the spirit of the designation of Professional order continues to be met, only on a more expedited basis—removing
a potential delay of two months before affecting a change in the designation. The Exchange believes that this amendment will
remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system by promoting the consistent
application of its rules and shortening the timeframe to change the designation for all Participants while continuing to provide
a sufficient time period to determine whether the activity of a customer meets the criteria for a Professional order. Further,
the Exchange believes that the shortened time period will continue to promote consistency in the treatment of orders as Professional
orders while also preventing members with high volume from receiving benefits reserved for Public Customer orders.

As noted, currently, each Participant is required to monitor Public Customer orders to determine if the Public Customer has
averaged more than 390 orders per day during a month. Determining whether a Public Customer has executed more than 390 orders
per day during a month requires computing a daily average. As such, Participants should be performing the workflow necessary
to designate orders on a daily basis. Therefore, the proposal does not amend the current workflow, rather, the proposal amends
the timeframe to change the manner in which the customer's order is being represented from five days after the end of each
calendar quarter to five days after the end of each calendar month.

The Exchange does not believe that this amendment is a significant departure from the current rule, nor does it impose any
burden on any Participant because each broker-dealer is required currently to perform the necessary calculation daily to arrive
at the requisite average. Further, in addition to the calculation, broker-dealers are subject to know-your-customer and suitability
requirements under FINRA Rules 2090 (Know Your Customer) and 2111 (Suitability) and would need to consider whether a customer
meets the Professional designation for purposes of determining best execution and making appropriate

recommendations. Finally, some Participants currently designate a Public Customer that has averaged more than 390 orders per
day during a month as a Professional on a more expedited basis, not waiting until five days after the quarter.

The Exchange notes that the trading behavior of a Public Customer can be distinguished from that of a Professional which is
the purpose of the separate designations. The Exchange continues to believe that identifying Professional orders based upon
the average number of orders entered in qualified accounts is an appropriately objective approach to reasonably distinguish
such persons and entities from retail investors or market participants. Priority is one of the marketplace advantages provided
to Public Customer orders on the Exchange. Public Customer orders are given execution priority over non-Customer orders and
quotations of market makers at the same price. Another marketplace advantage afforded to Public Customer orders on the Exchange
is that members are generally not assessed transaction fees or are assessed lower fees for the execution of Public Customer
orders. The purpose of these marketplace advantages is to attract retail order flow to the Exchange by leveling the playing
field for retail investors over market Professionals. This proposal will continue to provide Public Customer accounts with
marketplace advantages and distinguish those accounts non-Professional retail investors from the Professionals accounts. The
Exchange notes that some non-broker-dealer individuals and entities have access to information and technology that enables
them to Professionally trade listed options in the same manner as a broker or dealer in securities.

Technical Amendment

Reserving Options 3B, Options 3C, Options 4D, Options 9, Section 26 and correcting a citation at Options 2, Section 5(d)(1)(D)
are non-substantive amendments.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or
appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

Specifically, the Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on intra-market competition
because, today, each Participant is required to monitor Public Customer orders to determine if the Public Customer has averaged
more than 390 orders per day during a month. Determining whether a Public Customer has executed more than 390 orders per day
during a month requires computing a daily average. As such, Participants should be performing the workflow necessary to designate
orders on a daily basis. Therefore, the proposal does not amend the current workflow, rather, the proposal amends the timeframe
to change the manner in which the customer's order is being represented from five days after the end of each calendar quarter
to five days after the end of each calendar month.

The Exchange does not believe that this amendment is a significant departure from the current rule, nor does it impose any
burden on any Participant because each broker-dealer is required currently to perform the necessary calculation daily to arrive
at the requisite average. Further, in addition to the calculation, broker-dealers are subject to know-your-customer and suitability
requirements under FINRA Rules 2090 (Know Your Customer) and 2111 (Suitability) and would need to consider whether a customer
meets the Professional designation for purposes of determining best execution and making appropriate recommendations. Finally,
some Participants currently designate a Public Customer that has averaged more than 390 orders per day during a month as a
Professional on a more expedited basis, not waiting until five days after the quarter.

The Exchange notes that the trading behavior of a Public Customer can be distinguished from that of a Professional which is
the purpose of the separate designations.

Further, the designation of Professional orders would not result in any different treatment of such orders for purposes of
compliance with the Exchange's Rules. Public Customers have been granted certain priority over other non-broker-dealer individuals
and entities that have access to information and technology that enables them to Professionally trade listed options in the
same manner as a broker or dealer in securities. Further, the Public Customer designation allows the Exchange to attract order
flow or create more competitive markets.

Also, the Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on inter-market competition because
other exchanges are expected to adopt similar rules.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or

Others

No written comments were either solicited or received.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action

Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i) significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest;
(ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii) become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed,
or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the
Act (12) and subparagraph (f)(6) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder. (13)

At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such
rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection
of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the Commission
shall institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the
proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

Electronic Comments

• Use the Commission's internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or

• Send an email to rule-comments@sec.gov. Please include file number SR-NasdaqTX-2026-013 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

  • Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090. All submissions should refer to file number SR-NasdaqTX-2026-013. This file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's internet website (https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the filing will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. Do not include personal identifiable information in submissions; you should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. We may redact in part or withhold entirely from publication submitted material that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. All submissions should refer to file number SR-NasdaqTX-2026-013 and should be submitted on or before May 11, 2026.

For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority. (14)

Sherry R. Haywood, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 2026-07591 Filed 4-17-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

Footnotes

(1) 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).

(2) 17 CFR 240.19b-4.

(3) The term “Professional” means any person or entity that (i) is not a broker or dealer in securities, and (ii) places more
than 390 orders in listed options per day on average during a calendar month for its own beneficial account(s). All Professional
orders shall be appropriately marked by Participants. The manner in which a Professional order is calculated is specified
in Options 1, Section 1(a)(48)(i).

(4) The term “Public Customer” means a person or entity that is not a broker or dealer in securities and is not a Professional
as defined within Options 1, Section 1(a)(49). See Options 1, Section 1(a)(48).

(5) The requirement to review Public Customers' activity on at least a quarterly basis to determine whether orders that are not
for the account of a broker-dealer should be represented as Public Customer Orders or Professional Orders is not in the current
rule text, however it was described in the adopting proposal. See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 78199 (June 30, 2016), 81 FR 44373 (July 7, 2016) (July 7, 2016) (SR-BX-2016-035) (Notice
of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change to the Professional Designation) (“SR-BX-2016-035”). Nasdaq
Texas was formerly Nasdaq BX, Inc. The instant proposal seeks to codify the timing for review of Public Customers' activity.

(6) The term “Options Participant” or “Participant” mean a firm, or organization that is registered with the Exchange pursuant
to Options 2A of these Rules for purposes of participating in options trading on NTX Options as a “NTX Options Order Entry
Firm” or “NTX Options Market Maker.” See Options 1, Section 1(a)(40).

(7) See 81 FR 44373 at 44374.

(8) See id.

(9) See id.

(10) 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).

(11) 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).

(12) 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(iii).

(13) 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6) requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission written
notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed
rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Exchange has satisfied this requirement.

(14) 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).

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Named provisions

Options 1 Section 1(a)(48)(ii) Options 2 Section 5(d)(1)(D) Options 9 Section 26

Citations

15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1) Exchange Act Section 19(b)(1) filing requirement

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Last updated

Classification

Agency
SEC
Published
April 15th, 2026
Compliance deadline
July 1st, 2026 (71 days)
Instrument
Notice
Branch
Independent
Joint with
Nasdaq Texas
Legal weight
Non-binding
Stage
Consultation
Change scope
Substantive
Document ID
SEC-2026-2412-0001
Docket
SEC-2026-2412-0001

Who this affects

Applies to
Broker-dealers Investors Public companies
Industry sector
5231 Securities & Investments
Activity scope
Professional order designation Order review Designation review
Threshold
Orders averaging more than 390 per day during any month
Geographic scope
United States US

Taxonomy

Primary area
Securities
Operational domain
Compliance
Topics
Market structure Investor protection

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