Senate committee adopts amendment and advances bill to tighten title recording identification to deter property fraud

Senators on the City, County & Local Affairs Committee adopted an amendment and advanced Senate Bill 406 on a voice vote after a lengthy presentation and public comment on efforts to deter property title theft.

Senator Clark, sponsor of SB 406, said the bill is intended to strengthen “title security” and reduce incidents where someone forges a deed and attempts to transfer property they do not own. The amendment clarifies which individual counts as the “grantor” for identification purposes — listing trustees of trusts, members of LLCs, presidents of corporations and attorneys-in-fact acting under a power of attorney — and removes a requirement that a copy of a grantor’s driver’s license be recorded with the…