North Carolina Sen. Sawrey deed registration and title fraud prevention bill passes House and Senate

Passed bill sponsored by State Sen. Benton G. Sawrey seeks to prevent title fraud by requiring photographic ID for deed registration and creating a legal process to address fraudulent conveyances, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

In the House, 45 Democrats and 65 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 15 Democrats and 27 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Sawrey filed the bill in the North Carolina Senate on March 24 during the 2025 regular session.

The legislation, known as SB 423, was passed on June 18 during the 2025 regular session.

According to the North Carolina General Assembly site, the bill’s official text was formally listed with the short title: “Title Fraud Prevention.”

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill aims to prevent title fraud by mandating that individuals who are not “trusted submitters” or their agents produce a government-issued photographic identification card when registering a deed or similar documents with the register of deeds. The details of the identification will be recorded but not posted online. The register of deeds can refuse registration if the ID is not provided or does not match the document’s grantor. The bill also establishes a legal process to quiet title following fraudulent conveyance attempts, enabling owners to seek expedited court relief to void false instruments and potentially award attorney fees, possession of property, and civil penalties up to $10,000. The bill takes effect Oct. 1, 2025, for instruments and actions from that date.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Warren Daniel (Republican-46th District), Sen. Buck Newton (Republican-4th District), and Sen. Benton G. Sawrey (Republican-10th District).

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.

Sawrey graduated from North Carolina State University in 2009 with a BA and again in 2013 from University of South Carolina School of Law with a JD.

Sawrey, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2023 to represent the state’s 10th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Brent Jackson.

Under North Carolina law, bills must receive three readings in each chamber. According to the UNC School of Government, once a bill “passes its constitutionally required second reading and moves to its constitutionally required third reading,” additional debate can occur, but the final stage is often treated as a formality. Unless a legislator requests a roll-call, the third reading may be approved by voice vote or unanimous consent without a separate recorded tally.