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Senate advances bill to standardize documents filed with county recorders; sponsors note timing concerns for small title firms
Summary
Senate approved HB 200 to standardize documents that county recorders accept and scan, with sponsors and some in the title industry requesting a delayed effective date to allow smaller firms time to comply; the bill was read for a third time after discussion and passed by roll call.
Senator Madsen presented House Bill 200, a technical measure to standardize documents that county recorders accept and record. The sponsor said the goal is to improve scanning, preservation and public access to recorded documents by setting consistent format, margins, language and other requirements.
Senator Madsen said county recorders and the Association of Counties supported the concept; he noted that some smaller title companies raised timing concerns about an early July 1 effective date and asked for possible extension to allow software adjustments. Senator Stevenson proposed a fee amendment (reducing a proposed fee for noncompliant pages) but withdrew it in the interest of time; Senator Madsen said he would work with title companies and consider amending the effective date.
Floor discussion emphasized exceptions for maps, death certificates and certain government documents that do not fit the standardized format, and sponsors said the judicial system had already moved toward standardized documents. The Senate voted in roll call to read HB 200 for a third time; the clerk recorded 24 aye votes, 0 nay, 5 absent.
What’s next: Senator Madsen asked to refine effective dates and fee language with stakeholders; the bill was advanced for third reading and will be returned for final procedural steps.
