Legislative Developments

The Louisiana Legislature passed legislation that will provide qualification and licensing requirements for title insurance producers. Read on for more details.

The Kentucky Department of Insurance announced that in-person insurance examinations will resume at the department’s office in Frankfort, Ky., on June 15 and it will stop issuing temporary licenses July 31. Read on for more details.

The California Legislature is considering a bill that would amend requirements regarding the validity of a false or forged document, particularly when a quiet title action or declaratory relief action has been filed by an interested party concerning the validity or enforceability of the false or forged document. Read on for more details.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has signed into law a bill to establish that the provision authorizing a mortgagor or grantor to refinance the indebtedness secured by a first mortgage or deed of trust without obtaining permission from the holder of a junior lien does not apply to government junior liens. Read on for more details.

Emergency video notarizations now are authorized temporarily under North Carolina law for most notarial acts until Aug. 1, 2020, as a result of the State of Emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read on for more details.

Several senators announced plans to introduce the COVID-19 Consumer Data Protection Act. The legislation would provide all Americans with more transparency, choice, and control over the collection and use of their personal health, geolocation, and proximity data. The bill also would hold businesses accountable to consumers if they use personal data to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Read on for more details.

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice signed into law the Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act. Read on for more details.

The Massachusetts Legislature enacted a law providing for virtual notarization to address challenges related to COVID-19. Read on for more details.

In October, 2019, a law establishing real estate closings as the practice of law went into effect. In April 2020, the Connecticut Bar Association released a whitepaper providing guidance on which aspects of the real estate closing were considered the practice of law. Read on for insight from the whitepaper.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed a bill that creates a prohibition against payment or receipt of settlement services kickbacks, rebates, commissions and other payments. Read on for more details.