F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
HB 289 2024
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to title fraud prevention; creating s.
3 696.031, F.S.; creating s. 696.031, F.S.; creating a
4 pilot program in Broward County; providing a
5 definition; requiring certain parties to provide
6 specified information to the property appraiser;
7 requiring the property appraiser to make certain
8 notifications to specified parties; providing that
9 certain action or inaction does not give rise to
10 liability; requiring participating property appraisers
11 to submit a report to specified parties containing
12 certain information; providing for future repeal;
13 providing an effective date.
14
15 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
16
17 Section 1. Section 696.031, Florida Statutes, is created
18 to read:
19 696.031 Title fraud prevention through sales contract
20 notification services; pilot program.—
21 (1) As used in this section, the term "property appraiser"
22 means the property appraiser for Broward County.
23 (2) Upon execution of a real property contract and before
24 the execution of the real property conveyance instrument, real
25 estate brokers as defined in s. 475.01(1), title agents, and
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26 attorneys involved in the transfer of real property are
27 encouraged to furnish to the property appraiser a seller's name,
28 mailing address, e-mail address, and phone number, as such
29 information appears within the contract.
30 (3) The property appraiser shall notify land record
31 notification service registrants, as defined in s. 28.47(1),
32 that a contract for the sale or purchase of the real estate has
33 been executed. The purpose of the notification service is to
34 confirm the seller's identity to ensure the integrity of the
35 real estate transaction.
36 (4) There is no right or cause of action against, and no
37 civil liability on the part of, real estate brokers as defined
38 in s. 475.01, title agents, attorneys, or the property appraiser
39 with respect to the creation, maintenance, and operation of a
40 sales contract notification service or land record notification
41 service, or for providing information to the property appraiser
42 under this section.
43 (5) By July 1, 2026, the property appraiser must report to
44 the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
45 the House of Representatives the following information:
46 (a) The number of real estate brokers, title agents, and
47 attorneys who provided information to the property appraiser
48 under this section.
49 (b) The number of times a seller's contact information was
50 provided to the property appraiser under this section
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51 (c) The property appraiser's recommendation as to whether
52 the sales contract notification service is appropriate to
53 recommend throughout the state as an effective tool to combat
54 title fraud.
55 (d) Any other information the property appraiser deems
56 necessary.
57 (6) This section is repealed on July 1, 2026.
58 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.
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