Senate approves new criminal offense for real property theft and fraud (SB 16)
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Summary
Senate Bill 16 creates offenses for real‑property theft and fraud, extends statute of limitations to 10 years and enhances penalties for crimes involving elderly or disabled owners; the Senate passed the bill unanimously.
Senate Bill 16, sponsored by Senator West, creates an offense for real property theft and real property fraud and establishes a 10‑year statute of limitations and enhanced penalties where victims are elderly or disabled, among other enhancements.
Sponsor explanation and passage Senator West said the bill makes it mandatory that in‑person filers of real‑property transaction documents present photo ID to county clerks and log that information, and creates new criminal offenses and penalty ladders with enhanced penalties in specified circumstances. He moved suspension and the bill passed to final passage; the transcript records a 30‑0 final Senate vote.
Why it matters Supporters said SB 16 targets schemes that illegally transfer real property by fraud and ensures tools for prosecution and deterrence; critics did not block the bill on the floor.
Procedural outcome SB 16 passed final passage on the Senate floor with a recorded vote of 30 ayes and 0 nays.
Ending The measure creates new criminal tools for prosecutors and new ID‑verification requirements for filing property records; implementing agencies and county clerks will need to operationalize the ID checks and recordkeeping.