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Committee approves bill to require trained professionals or owners prepare deeds to curb fraud
Summary
Committee adopted amendment language and moved HB 17‑62 to calendar and rules. Sponsor said the bill would require deeds be prepared by licensed professionals or owners and strengthen verification through sworn declarations to help block fraudulent filings.
Representative Gantt introduced House Bill 17‑62 as a consumer protection measure to guard Tennessee property owners against deed fraud. The sponsor said the bill would limit deed preparation to trained professionals — licensed Tennessee attorneys, licensed title‑insurance agents — or the property owner or authorized representative, and require a sworn declaration or notarized affidavit identifying who prepared the deed.
"This bill addresses that problem head on by requiring that deeds be prepared only by trained professionals, licensed Tennessee attorneys, licensed title insurance agents or by actual property owner or someone legally authorized to act on their behalf," the sponsor said. Committee members heard the sponsor emphasize that government‑filed deeds and legitimate financial‑institution filings would be exempted to avoid burdening ordinary transactions.
The committee placed amendment 014766 on the bill and recorded a 22–0 vote moving HB 17‑62 to calendar and rules. Supporters framed the measure as a straightforward consumer‑protection step to prevent title defects and fraudulent filings; no contentious fiscal or implementation hurdles were raised in committee.
