Committee advances bill creating new property-fraud offenses and requiring ID for property transactions

The Senate Committee on Finance voted to report Senate Bill 16 favorably to the full Senate after sponsor remarks described criminal and procedural changes for property transactions.

Senator West presented the measure and told members the bill would make it mandatory for a person filing a property transaction document to present a photo ID and for the county clerk’s office to log that information. "Secondly, bill creates a criminal offense of real property theft and real property fraud," West said, and the bill would create a 10-year statute of limitations and enhance penalties in situations involving owners over 65 or disabled.

Committee members had no recorded questions and the chair noted two cards on file registering positions but not wishing to testify; public testimony was otherwise closed. Senator West moved that SB 16 be reported favorably; the clerk recorded the motion and the roll call produced 11 ayes and no nays, per the chair’s announcement.

The committee’s action advances SB 16 to the full Senate for further consideration. The measure, as described in committee, combines procedural changes (ID verification logged at county clerk offices) with new criminal penalties and extended time limits for prosecution in property fraud cases.