SB 292 Alabama Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Real property; creation of the Alabama Property Protection Act of 2026, title fraud prevention

SB 292 creates the Alabama Property Protection Act of 2026 to prevent title fraud, directly affecting real estate professionals (title agents, attorneys, realtors, notaries), online property platforms, and homeowners. It establishes best practices for verifying property ownership before listings, classifies standard fraudulent property sales as a Class D felony and aggravated cases as Class C, and creates an Alabama Title Fraud Recovery Fund administered by the Securities Commission to recover funds from fraudulent transactions. The bill also requires online platforms to verify ownership before publishing listings, mandates expedited legal processes for victims to clear ownership, and prohibits remote notarization for property transfers in certain cases. These changes aim to strengthen fraud prevention and victim recovery through concrete regulatory and enforcement mechanisms.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Feb 10, 2026 Signed Apr 16, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed → Enrolled · 4 edits · Apr 16, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized as an enrolled version, incorporating several substantive policy additions to the original engrossed draft. Key changes include expanding the bill's purpose to explicitly establish a new crime of aggravated fraudulent sale or lease of residential real property as a Class C felony, adding a requirement for online real estate platforms to verify ownership, and creating a specific exemption for utility infrastructure acquisitions. Minor technical adjustments were also made to section numbering and formatting.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include a new criminal offense for aggravated fraudulent real estate sales and a mandate for online real estate platforms to verify ownership, while also adding an exemption for utility infrastructure projects.

SCOPE

Added the establishment of a new crime called 'aggravated fraudulent sale or lease of residential real property' classified as a Class C felony.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for online real estate platforms to verify ownership for listings in certain transactions.

ENFORCEMENT

Added an exemption stating that the new fraud protections do not apply to the acquisition of real property for utility infrastructure.

TECHNICAL

Adjusted section numbering and formatting to align with the final enrolled version of the bill.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Gudger motion to Concur In and Adopt House Amendment - Adopted Roll Call 1308

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1335

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1334

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Introduced

Judiciary Engrossed Substitute Offered (Judiciary)

lower

Apr 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee Second House (Judiciary)

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Pending Committee Action in Second House (Judiciary)

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 897

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Givhan motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 896

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Introduced

Givhan 1st Amendment Offered

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Orr motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 864

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

County and Municipal Government 1st Substitute Offered (County and Municipal Government)

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Committee in House of Origin (County and Municipal Government)

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development)

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors