If enacted, this bill would amend Arizona Revised Statutes section 33-420 by increasing the penalty for knowingly filing a forged or groundless document with the county recorder from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 4 felony. This change aims to enhance the legal repercussions for individuals who assert false claims to real property, thereby strengthening protections against fraudulent property claims. The bill also makes technical adjustments to the language of the statute, including clarifying the liability amounts for damages caused by such fraudulent filings.

Additionally, the bill modifies the existing provisions regarding the legal recourse available to property owners. It specifies that property owners or beneficial title holders can seek damages of at least $5,000 or treble actual damages, whichever is greater, for the recording of invalid documents. The bill also updates the language to ensure that the terms used are inclusive, replacing gender-specific pronouns with more neutral terms. Overall, these updates aim to provide clearer legal standards and stronger penalties for fraudulent activities related to real property claims.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 33-420
Senate Engrossed Version: 33-420