Legislative Developments

The Hawaii Legislature is considering a Senate concurrent resolution requesting the director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to convene a mortgage foreclosure fraud task force to develop recommendations to improve mortgage fraud protections for consumers. Read on for more details.

The Arkansas General Assembly is considering a bill that would require fire protection coverage be in force before the closing of a loan for a mortgage or deed of trust. Read on for more details.

The Rhode Island General Assembly is considering a bill that would provide for the release of unperfected mechanic’s liens via the filing of an affidavit. Read on for more details.

The California Legislature is considering a bill that would amend law authorizing the Los Angeles County recording to mail a notice of recordation to the party executing a deed. Read on for more details.

The Massachusetts General Court has introduced a bill that seeks to reform title insurance by prohibiting lender’s title insurance from being assessed to buyers who refinance the mortgage on their home, and to achieve uniformity in insurance rates, rating systems, rating plans and practices. Read on for more details.

The Texas Legislature introduced legislation regulating title insurance rates in the state, allowing for all interested parties.

South Carolina’s General Assembly introduced a pair of bills which would provide guidelines to allow electronic notary public acts as well as remote online notarization acts. S. 487, the South Carolina Electronic Notary Public Act, and S. 486, the South Carolina Remote Online Notarization Act, were introduced and referred to the Committee on Family and Veterans’ Services. Read on for details.

Legislation concerning deeds for the conveyance of real property has passed the Colorado Legislature. The bill seeks to establish requirements for title insurance entities that prepare deeds and establish forms for the preparation of deeds in certain circumstance. It now awaits the governor’s signature. Read on for more details.

The Texas Legislature is considering a bill relating to the foreclosure of a lien on real property of a decedent. Read on for more details.

The Connecticut General Assembly has introduced a bill that would prohibit anyone other than attorneys from representing the legal interests of parties to real estate closings concerning real property in the state and prohibit mortgage lenders from inducing or requiring prospective mortgagors to use preferred attorneys or law firms to represent the mortgagors in proposed mortgage loan transactions concerning real property in Connecticut. Read on for more details.