A new bill filed by State Rep. Neal Jackson in the North Carolina House seeks to combat title fraud by strengthening document verification and notification processes, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 535 on March 26 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Title Fraud Prevention Act.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill, titled the Title Fraud Prevention Act, aims to combat title fraud by enacting several measures. It criminalizes the presentation of fraudulent deeds and conveyances, with penalties varying based on property value, and empowers the Register of Deeds to require government-issued photo ID for recording real property documents. It introduces a fraud detection alert system for notifying registrants of changes in land records and allows legal action to quiet title if fraudulent conveyances are filed. The bill also sets conditions under which the Register of Deeds can refuse to register suspicious instruments, with exemptions for trusted submitters like attorneys and title companies. Various sections become effective on different dates, with the earliest changes taking effect on Oct. 1, 2025.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Brian Biggs proposed the most bills (23) during the 2025 regular session.
Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Jackson, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 78th House district, replacing previous state representative Allen McNeill.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neal Jackson, Brian Biggs, Jennifer Balkcom, and Sarah Stevens | HB 535 | 03/26/2025 | Title Fraud Prevention Act. |
| Neal Jackson, Allen Chesser, Jennifer Balkcom, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 547 | 03/26/2025 | Children’s Services Protection Act. |
| Neal Jackson, Allen Chesser, Terry M. Brown Jr., and Tim Longest | HB 462 | 03/19/2025 | Personal Data Privacy/Social Media Safety. |
| Neal Jackson, Brian Echevarria, Jimmy Dixon, and Matthew Winslow | HB 432 | 03/18/2025 | Property Tax Relief Study. |
| Neal Jackson, Brian Biggs, Steve Tyson, and Wyatt Gable | HB 411 | 03/17/2025 | Reduce Early Voting Period for Primaries. |
| Neal Jackson, Jennifer Balkcom, Jonathan L. Almond, and Mitchell S. Setzer | HB 380 | 03/12/2025 | Conscientious Objections to Vaccine Mandates. |
| Neal Jackson, David Willis, Jeff Zenger, and Jonathan L. Almond | HB 301 | 03/05/2025 | Social Media Protections for Minors Under 16. |
| Neal Jackson, Bill Ward, Brian Biggs, and Jennifer Balkcom | HB 261 | 03/03/2025 | Sent. Enhancement/Immigration-Related Crimes. |
| Neal Jackson, Brenden H. Jones, Brian Biggs, and Brian Echevarria | HB 244 | 02/27/2025 | Depoliticize Government Property Act. |
| Neal Jackson, Brian Biggs, Jennifer Balkcom, and John R. Bell, IV | HB 186 | 02/24/2025 | The Stars and Stripes Commitment Act. |
| Neal Jackson, Bill Ward, Donnie Loftis, and Keith Kidwell | HB 162 | 02/21/2025 | Local Gov’t Applicants/Criminal History Check. |
| Neal Jackson, Blair Eddins, Brenden H. Jones, and Jarrod Lowery | HB 171 | 02/21/2025 | Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI. |
| Neal Jackson, Jeff Zenger, Jennifer Balkcom, and John R. Bell, IV | HB 133 | 02/17/2025 | NC Farmland and Military Protection Act. |
| Neal Jackson and Jimmy Dixon | HB 126 | 02/13/2025 | Revise Voluntary Ag. District Laws. |
| Neal Jackson, Blair Eddins, Howard Penny, Jr., and Jimmy Dixon | HB 130 | 02/13/2025 | Agriculture Crops Disaster Relief. |
| Neal Jackson, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., John Sauls, and Paul Scott | HB 100 | 02/11/2025 | Expand Religious Property Tax Exemption. |
| Neal Jackson, Blair Eddins, Brian Biggs, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 87 | 02/10/2025 | Cell Phone-Free Education. |
| Neal Jackson, Jennifer Balkcom, Jimmy Dixon, and Karl E. Gillespie | HB 62 | 02/05/2025 | Farmers Protection Act. |
| Neal Jackson, Brian Biggs, Kyle Hall, and Stephen M. Ross | HB 31 | 02/03/2025 | Make Election Day A State Holiday. |
| Neal Jackson, Cody Huneycutt, Julia C. Howard, and Paul Scott | HB 37 | 02/03/2025 | Enhance Firefighter Benefits & Representation. |
