Senator Carroll Advances Legislation Cracking Down on Deed Fraud with Tough New Protections for Arizona Property Owners
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
PHOENIX, ARIZONA—Majority Whip Frank Carroll is advancing legislation to stop deed fraud, strengthen safeguards in the recording process, and protect Arizona property owners from losing their homes and land to forged or fraudulent filings. As property crimes grow more sophisticated, Senator Carroll is leading a comprehensive effort to close loopholes, increase accountability, and ensure that rightful owners are notified and protected before bad actors can exploit the system.
SB 1479 updates Arizona's real estate recording laws to prevent fraud and improve transparency. It requires individuals submitting deeds in person to present valid photo identification, which county recorders cannot retain or disclose. The bill also enhances owner notification systems by requiring county assessors to provide voluntary alerts for changes in ownership or mailing addresses. It strengthens affidavit requirements, mandates thumbprints in notary journals for important real estate documents, eliminates the five-year statute of limitations that may benefit fraudulent possession, and raises the penalty for recording forged documents from a misdemeanor to a Class 4 felony.
SB 1254, sponsored by Senator J.D. Mesnard and passed by the Senate Finance Committee in January, enhances property protections by requiring grantee acceptance before a deed can be recorded. Currently, real estate transfers focus mostly on the seller, and while deeds must be signed by the grantor, there's no requirement for the grantee to confirm acceptance. SB 1254 addresses this by mandating that grantees document their acceptance—either by signing the deed or by attaching a certificate or resolution. This measure ensures that property transfers cannot occur without the grantee's knowledge, helping to prevent fraudulent filings.
"Property ownership is the cornerstone of financial security for families, seniors, and small businesses in Arizona," said Senator Carroll. "When criminals are able to forge documents, record false claims, or quietly transfer property without the rightful owner's knowledge, it erodes trust in our entire system. These bills deliver a strong message: Arizona will not tolerate deed fraud. We are enhancing identity verification, increasing penalties for offenders, improving notification systems, and ensuring that no property changes hands without proper approval. This initiative aims to protect homeowners, restore confidence in our public records, and ensure that the law firmly supports legitimate property owners."
###
For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus