Conveyances; requiring certain documentation when filing a memorandum of agreement. Effective date.

SB 1965 requires anyone filing a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with a county clerk to submit a valid real estate contract, a full property description with price, and a sworn affidavit confirming the filing is in good faith. Property owners who believe a fraudulent MOA is filed against their property can request its removal by submitting a sworn affidavit, prompting the county clerk to notify the filer and require proof within 15 days. If proof isn’t provided, the clerk must remove the MOA. Violating these rules by knowingly filing a fraudulent MOA is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both, and may also trigger civil liability for damages.