IllinoisSB1523104th General Assembly (2025–2026)Senate

CTY CD-DEED VERIFICATION

Sponsored By: Doris Turner (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that any person who files or causes to be filed a deed or instrument that is recorded in the grantor's index or the grantee's index that is fraudulent, unlawfully altered, or intended to unlawfully cloud or transfer the title of any real property may be held liable to the rightful property owner affected in an action brought in a court of competent jurisdiction for such legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate to enforce the Code. Requires every county to establish and maintain a property fraud alert system. Requires every recorder to establish a fraud referral and review process to review deeds and instruments.

assignmentsjudiciaryjudiciary - civil

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Property owners can sue fraudulent filers

Affected rightful property owners can sue someone who knowingly files, or causes the filing of, a qualifying property document. The document must be fraudulent, unlawfully changed, or intended to unlawfully cloud or transfer property title. It must also be recorded in the county's grantor or grantee index, which lists parties to property filings. Courts can award appropriate legal relief or order corrective action, but the law sets no fixed payment amount.

County deed reviews protect property owners

Illinois county recorders must establish a fraud-review process for property documents submitted after January 1, 2024. Counties below 3 million people must publish notice at least 90 days before starting the process. Recorders may refer suspected fraud, unlawful changes, or attempts to cloud or transfer title to an administrative law judge. Referral grounds include owner reports, suspected forged signatures, unauthorized liens, and earlier court findings of fraud. Recorders must index a referral notice, notify identified parties including the last recorded owner, and send mailed notices to the property address. They must also notify the state's financial regulation secretary and may seek agency help or work with local law enforcement. A judge must find fraud by clear and convincing evidence; within 5 business days, the recorder must record the judgment or a notice that a fraudulent document cannot affect the chain of title. Counties without a judge must appoint one within 3 months of the act's effective date or send cases to circuit court. Referral decisions and administrative rulings are subject to court review, including de novo review in circuit court; criminal cases and private lawsuits remain available without requiring this process. Recorders keep filing fees for documents found fraudulent, and recorders and employees generally have liability protection except for willful or wanton misconduct.

Property alerts offer help with limits

Every Illinois county must maintain a system that alerts registered owners when documents about their property are recorded. Signing up is voluntary, and owners can also enroll through other channels, such as county or vendor websites. Recorders must enter completed, signed registration forms; the form identifies any vendor and costs, collects property and contact information, and allows up to three extra alert recipients. Professionals signing for owners must first register with the recorder and verify their license as an agent, attorney, closing agent, or title company agent. The form requires an acknowledgment accepting liability for alert failures; counties, recorders, vendors, participating professionals, and employees are shielded from liability for registration errors or missed alerts, except for willful or wanton misconduct.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Doris Turner

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Andrew S. Chesney

    Republican • Senate

  • Chris Balkema

    Republican • Senate

  • Joyce Mason

    Democratic • House

  • Lakesia Collins

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mary Gill

    Democratic • House

  • Willie Preston

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 267 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/31/2025

House Floor Amendment No. 1 Senate Concurs

Yes: 57 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/28/2025

House Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Judiciary;

Yes: 8 • No: 0

House vote • 5/23/2025

Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed

Yes: 109 • No: 0

House vote • 5/7/2025

House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Judiciary - Civil Committee;

Yes: 17 • No: 0

House vote • 4/23/2025

Do Pass / Short Debate Judiciary - Civil Committee;

Yes: 17 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/11/2025

Third Reading - Passed;

Yes: 51 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/9/2025

Do Pass Judiciary;

Yes: 8 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0382

    8/15/2025Senate
  2. Effective Date January 1, 2026

    8/15/2025Senate
  3. Governor Approved

    8/15/2025Senate
  4. Sent to the Governor

    6/27/2025Senate
  5. Passed Both Houses

    5/31/2025Senate
  6. Senate Concurs

    5/31/2025Senate
  7. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Senate Concurs 057-000-000

    5/31/2025Senate
  8. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Andrew S. Chesney

    5/29/2025Senate
  9. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Judiciary; 008-000-000

    5/28/2025Senate
  10. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Assignments Referred to Judiciary

    5/27/2025Senate
  11. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments

    5/27/2025Senate
  12. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Filed with Secretary Sen. Doris Turner

    5/27/2025Senate
  13. Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1 - May 27, 2025

    5/26/2025Senate
  14. Secretary's Desk - Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1

    5/26/2025Senate
  15. Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 109-000-000

    5/23/2025House
  16. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate

    5/23/2025House
  17. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted

    5/23/2025House
  18. Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate

    5/16/2025House
  19. Second Reading - Short Debate

    5/16/2025House
  20. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Joyce Mason

    5/12/2025House
  21. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Judiciary - Civil Committee; 017-000-000

    5/7/2025House
  22. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Judiciary - Civil Committee

    5/6/2025House
  23. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Chris Balkema

    4/30/2025Senate
  24. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee

    4/29/2025House
  25. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Mary Gill

    4/29/2025House

Bill Text

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