The bill amends Chapter 11-18 of the General Laws to establish the criminal offense of real estate title fraud and introduces new regulations regarding the recording of real estate documents. It defines key terms such as "suspicious document," "trusted submitter," and "pattern of real estate title fraud." Starting September 1, 2027, municipalities will be prohibited from accepting electronic filings of real estate deeds or mortgages unless accompanied by sufficient documentation for identification or submitted by a trusted submitter. Municipal recorders are granted the authority to temporarily delay the recording of suspicious documents, report them to law enforcement, and notify notarial officers of their findings. Any filing in violation of these provisions shall be voidable by a court.

Additionally, the bill mandates that by January 1, 2028, municipalities must establish a property alert notification system to inform property owners of any recorded documents affecting their property. The system will notify enrolled owners within ten business days of such recordings and will be free of charge. The bill also amends the Uniform Law on Notarial Acts to allow notarial officers to refuse to perform notarial acts if an individual does not provide sufficient information for identity proofing or does not consent to pay for identity proofing. Overall, the act aims to enhance protections against real estate fraud and improve the integrity of property transactions.

Statutes affected:
7551: 42-30.1-7
7551  as amended: 42-30.1-7