Legislative Developments

The Pennsylvania General Assembly is considering legislation to provide for the discharging of discriminatory real estate covenants and establishing the Unlawful Restrictive Covenant Discharge Reimbursement Fund.

The Louisiana Senate passed a resolution requesting the Louisiana State Law Institute study and make recommendations on legislation relative to electronic filing and records retention.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed legislation permitting certified copies to be made in accordance with the Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act and allowing fees to be charged for certified records in accordance with certain fee schedules.

The Nebraska Legislature passed legislation to, among other things, eliminate the requirement that an annual review of a title insurance agent’s practices by a title insurer be done onsite. The bill awaits the governor’s signature.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation that will prohibit certain governments or governmental entities from acquiring certain real property in the state.

The California Legislature is considering modifications to its restrictive covenant law, seeking to strengthen and clarify the process purchasers can use to remove a covenant, condition or restriction limiting the property’s use for affordable housing.

The Connecticut General Assembly is considering legislation to establish a task force to study the online recording, indexing and searching of municipal land records and maps.

The North Dakota Legislative Assembly adopted legislation to prohibit local development by foreign adversaries and the ownership of real property by a foreign adversary.

A coalition of numerous state and federal trade associations, underwriters and others wrote to U.S Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) to voice their support for S. 1212, the Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic Notarization Act (SECURE Notarization Act).

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed legislation that prohibits certain foreign ownership of real property in the state by nonresident aliens and foreign entities if certain conditions are met. The bill goes into effect July 1.