TexasSB 1689th Legislature 2nd Called SessionSenateWALLET

Relating to real property theft and real property fraud; establishing recording requirements for certain documents concerning real property; creating the criminal offenses of real property theft and real property fraud and establishing a statute of limitations, restitution, and certain procedures with respect to those offenses.

Sponsored By: Carol Alvarado (Democratic), Rafael Anchía, Trent Ashby, Paul Bettencourt (Republican), César Blanco (Democratic), Briscoe Cain, Donna Campbell (Republican), Brandon Creighton (Republican), Mano DeAyala, Paul Dyson, Sarah Eckhardt (Democratic), Pete Flores (Republican), Roland Gutierrez (Democratic), Brent Hagenbuch (Republican), Bob Hall (Republican), Adam Hinojosa (Republican), Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (Democratic), Joan Huffman (Republican), Bryan Hughes (Republican), Nathan Johnson (Democratic), Phil King (Republican), José Menéndez (Democratic), Mayes Middleton (Republican), Borris L. Miles (Democratic), Robert Nichols (Republican), Tan Parker (Republican), Angela Paxton (Republican), Charles Perry (Republican), Charles Schwertner (Republican), Kevin Sparks (Republican), Royce West (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

County Government--GeneralCourts--GeneralCourts--Prosecuting AttorneysCrimes--Against PropertyCriminal Procedure--Sentencing & PunishmentProperty Interests--Mortgages & LiensProperty Interests--Real PropertyFRAUDIDENTIFICATION CARDSRECORDS MANAGEMENTSTATUTES OF LIMITATIONSATTORNEY GENERALSECRETARY OF STATE

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Insurance payments reduce defendants’ restitution bills

Courts must reduce a defendant’s restitution bill when a title company or insurer pays the person owed restitution. The payment must cover a claim based on the same conduct as the offense. The reduction equals the full value of that payment, preventing duplicate restitution for the covered amount.

New felony protections for property owners

The law makes knowingly or intentionally using materially false written statements to obtain real property a felony. It also covers schemes intended to defraud or harm that cause someone to sign a property document without effective consent. Such schemes also include causing a public servant to record a purported judgment or document affecting property rights. Fraud is a second-degree felony below $300,000 and a first-degree felony at $300,000 or more, using the offense-year appraisal-roll value. Punishment rises one level for elderly or disabled owners, nonprofit owners, or an individual’s residence homestead qualifying for the specified tax exemption. The law removes real property from general theft rules about transferring or controlling property and establishes separate real-property offenses.

Prison employees can challenge fraudulent liens

Texas prison-system employees and board members can challenge property liens filed with the secretary of state by or for inmates. They must be named as a debtor or obligor and submit an affidavit under penalty of perjury claiming fraud. The secretary of state must ask the attorney general to review the filing. If the attorney general finds fraud, the secretary must file a statement ending the filing. The secretary may also reject real-property lien records the attorney general finds fraudulent.

Reported property fraud triggers police notice

Beginning January 1, 2026, county clerks must alert local law enforcement when someone reports a fraudulent property-transfer document. This rule covers documents filed for recording after January 1, 2026. Clerks must also share the photo ID information supplied by the person who presented the document for filing.

Property filing ID checks without copying fees

People filing real-property documents in person must show the photo ID required by the county clerk before recording. The clerk may copy the ID or record its details. The clerk cannot charge a fee for copying or recording that information.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Carol Alvarado

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rafael Anchía

    House

  • Trent Ashby

    House

  • Paul Bettencourt

    Republican • Senate

  • César Blanco

    Democratic • Senate

  • Briscoe Cain

    House

  • Donna Campbell

    Republican • Senate

  • Brandon Creighton

    Republican • Senate

  • Mano DeAyala

    House

  • Paul Dyson

    House

  • Sarah Eckhardt

    Democratic • Senate

  • Pete Flores

    Republican • Senate

  • Roland Gutierrez

    Democratic • Senate

  • Brent Hagenbuch

    Republican • Senate

  • Bob Hall

    Republican • Senate

  • Adam Hinojosa

    Republican • Senate

  • Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa

    Democratic • Senate

  • Joan Huffman

    Republican • Senate

  • Bryan Hughes

    Republican • Senate

  • Nathan Johnson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Phil King

    Republican • Senate

  • José Menéndez

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mayes Middleton

    Republican • Senate

  • Borris L. Miles

    Democratic • Senate

  • Robert Nichols

    Republican • Senate

  • Tan Parker

    Republican • Senate

  • Angela Paxton

    Republican • Senate

  • Charles Perry

    Republican • Senate

  • Charles Schwertner

    Republican • Senate

  • Kevin Sparks

    Republican • Senate

  • Royce West

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Lois Kolkhorst

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 21 • No: 0

Senate vote • 8/27/2025

Record vote

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 8/26/2025

Record vote

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 8/26/2025

Record vote

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote • 8/18/2025

Record vote

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote • 8/18/2025

Record vote

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote • 8/15/2025

Record vote

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote • Unknown

Committee vote: Finance

Yes: 14 • No: 0

House vote • Unknown

Committee vote: Criminal Jurisprudence

Yes: 7 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. See remarks for effective date

    9/17/2025House
  2. Signed by the Governor

    9/17/2025House
  3. Sent to the Governor

    8/28/2025House
  4. Signed in the House

    8/28/2025House
  5. Signed in the Senate

    8/28/2025Senate
  6. Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported

    8/28/2025House
  7. Reported enrolled

    8/27/2025Senate
  8. Record vote

    8/27/2025Senate
  9. Senate concurs in House amendment(s)

    8/27/2025Senate
  10. Read

    8/27/2025Senate
  11. House amendment(s) laid before the Senate

    8/27/2025Senate
  12. House passage as amended reported

    8/26/2025Senate
  13. Reason for vote recorded in Journal

    8/26/2025House
  14. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

    8/26/2025House
  15. Record vote (RV#84)

    8/26/2025House
  16. Passed

    8/26/2025House
  17. Read 3rd time

    8/26/2025House
  18. Additional sponsor(s) authorized

    8/26/2025House
  19. Rules suspended

    8/26/2025House
  20. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

    8/26/2025House
  21. Record vote (RV#72)

    8/26/2025House
  22. Passed to 3rd reading as amended

    8/26/2025House
  23. Amended (1-Harless)

    8/26/2025House
  24. Read 2nd time

    8/26/2025House
  25. Placed on General State Calendar

    8/26/2025House

Bill Text

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