HB 18-1154

House Bill 18-1154, which has been signed into law, aims to protect consumers from being overcharged for copies of deeds and deed of trust records. It requires companies that charge fees for providing these documents to give a copy of the document to each county clerk where it will be distributed, limit their fee to no more than four times what the county charges, and ensure they do not mislead people into thinking their service is official or mandatory. This law affects anyone who might need copies of such records and are solicited by third-party companies for these services. Since the bill has been signed, it is now enforceable and violations can be prosecuted by the attorney general and district attorneys.

Official Summary

The bill requires a person who solicits a fee for providing a copy of a deed or deed of trust to: Give a copy of the document that will be used for the solicitation to each county clerk and recorder where the solicitation is to be distributed; Not charge a fee of more than 4 times the amount charged by the county clerk and recorder that has custody of the deed or deed of trust for a copy of the same record; and Include specified disclosures on the document used for the solicitation, not make the document appear to have been issued by a state agency or local government, and not make the document appear to impose a legal duty on the individual being solicited. The attorney general and the appropriate district attorney may bring an action for a violation. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

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