Committee advances bill to make deed fraud a felony after registrars signal support

A legislative subcommittee advanced bill 8.22, which would make altering, forging or using counterfeit real-estate instruments a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

Miss Baker presented the bill summary, saying a person would be guilty of deed theft if they "alter, forge, or counterfeit any real estate instrument" or use false names or materially false statements in recorded instruments. The presenter said the penalty on conviction would be up to five years.

Kent Lacerna, speaking for the registers and clerks' community, expressed support, saying clerks and registrars are concerned about growing methods used by bad actors to file falsified instruments across state lines and that recording offices are not always in a position to authenticate documents from out-of-state parties.

After questions and brief discussion, the committee approved sending bill 8.22 to the full committee for further consideration.