Representative Selina Bliss’ bill, HB 2080, has advanced from the House Government Committee and will move to a full vote in the Arizona House of Representatives. The legislation aims to address deed fraud by implementing new security measures during real estate transactions.
“Deed fraud is a direct attack on a person’s home, their savings, and the work of a lifetime,” said Representative Selina Bliss. “HB 2080 adds clear identity checks when documents are recorded in person, keeps private ID information out of public view, and gives property owners an early warning when ownership or mailing records change. It also raises the consequences for filing forged real estate documents and strengthens notary safeguards that deter impersonation. This bill protects homeowners and puts criminals on notice.”
Under HB 2080, individuals recording documents in person at county recorder offices or kiosks would be required to present valid photo identification. However, this requirement does not apply to submissions made by escrow agents, title professionals, financial institutions such as banks and credit unions, Arizona attorneys, or government agencies. The legislation specifies that county recorders cannot retain copies of identification used during these transactions; any information collected is confidential and exempt from public records requests.
The bill further mandates that county assessors create an opt-in notification system by January 1, 2027. This system would notify participating property owners whenever there is a reported change in property ownership or updates to mailing addresses. Additionally, affidavits of legal value must now include phone numbers for both buyers and sellers and may also include other contact details like email addresses.
Criminal penalties under HB 2080 are increased for knowingly submitting false claims or forged documents related to real estate—from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 4 felony. Notaries handling certain real-property documents and powers of attorney would also be required to record the signer’s thumbprint (or another fingerprint if needed) in their journals with some exceptions.
If passed by the full House, HB 2080 would introduce several new layers of protection against deed fraud for Arizona property owners.
Carbone was elected as a Republican representative for Arizona’s 25th House District in 2023 after succeeding Michelle Udall.
