AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas House on Tuesday passed new legislation to combat deed fraud in the state.
Senate Bill 15 gives county clerks more power to raise alarms when thieves file fraudulent deeds then use them to try and sell someone else's property.
If the bill becomes law, it would require clerks to request identification when a property transaction is filed. The bill also includes harsher punishment for who try to commit title theft or fraud, including heavy fines or prison time.
Dallas County Assistant District Attorney Phillip Clark supports the bill and said victims usually don't find out their property has been sold without them knowing until it is too late.
"We had a case where somebody found out that her property had been stolen because someone came in and started cutting do