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Lawmakers review H.645, a bill to require identity verification for property recordings after reported fraudulent sales
Summary
Representative Sandy Pinstall described recent fraudulent land sales that prompted consideration of H.645, which would require a Secretary of State‑approved identity verification registry for real property transactions, give town clerks authority to delay endorsements, and require attorney affidavits verifying client identity.
Representative Sandy Pinstall told the House Government Operations & Military Affairs Committee that town clerks have reported multiple instances of fraudulent land transfers and that one Wallingford case involved a family later identified as relatives of Representative Eric Maguire.
"I was contacted this past summer from a a fellow town clerk from Paulette, and I also spoke with the clerk from Wallingford where a fraudulent sale had happened," Pinstall said, describing a case in which a property owner discovered he had not sold his land after a recorded transaction had already been processed.
Tucker Anderson, legislative counsel, presented the draft bill H.645 and described provisions that would add a new section to Title 24 to require verification before a town clerk endorses a certificate conveying an interest in real property. Anderson explained the bill would create a public registry of "secure real property transactors," allow the Secretary of State to approve identity‑verification platforms, and direct town clerks to prioritize recordings that meet verification requirements while delaying endorsement for up to 15 days when verification is not provided.
Anderson said the measure also adds duties for real estate brokers and attorneys: brokers and salespeople would have an obligation to take "reasonable measures to verify the identity of the client;" failure to verify could be deemed unprofessional conduct. Attorneys representing a grantor would be required to sign an affidavit, included with documents submitted for recording, stating they had taken reasonable measures to verify the grantor’s identity. Anderson cautioned lawmakers the proposal places duties on every participant in a transaction and warned, "applying the duties to every single party involved means every single party is going to hate this proposal."
Members raised procedural and feasibility questions: whether the affidavit must be filed before documents are sent to clerks, how the Secretary of State would administer a registry and approve platforms, and whether the town clerks association supports the approach. Counsel suggested outreach to trade associations (realtors, title insurers and clerks) before advancing the bill. The committee did not move H.645 today but agreed to solicit stakeholder input and reconvene the issue.
