HB1601 • 2026

Real Property - Deeds - Recordation Requirements

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Delegate Griffith
Last action: 2026-02-16
Official status: In the House - First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations
Effective date: 2026-10-01

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Real Property - Deeds - Recordation Requirements

Requiring a deed presented for recording effecting a change in ownership of residential property to contain the name of the title insurer and the policy number if the purchaser or other party has obtained title insurance.

What This Bill Does

Requiring a deed presented for recording effecting a change in ownership of residential property to contain the name of the title insurer and the policy number if the purchaser or other party has obtained title insurance.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-02-16 House
First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations
Maryland General Assembly
Text - First - Real Property - Deeds - Recordation Requirements

Official Summary Text

Requiring a deed presented for recording effecting a change in ownership of residential property to contain the name of the title insurer and the policy number if the purchaser or other party has obtained title insurance.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1601*

HOUSE BILL 1601
N1 6lr3660
CF SB 723
By: Delegate Griffith
Introduced and read first time: February 16, 2026
Assigned to: Rules and Executive Nominations

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Real Property – Deeds – Recordation Requirements 2

FOR the purpose of requiring that a certain deed presented for recordation contain the 3
name of the title insurer and the policy number under certain circumstances; and 4
generally relating to the recordation of deeds. 5

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 6
Article – Real Property 7
Section 1–101(a) and (c) 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10

BY adding to 11
Article – Real Property 12
Section 3–104(f)(7) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 16
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 17

Article – Real Property 18

1–101. 19

(a) In this article the following words have the meanings indicated unless 20
otherwise apparent from context. 21

(c) “Deed” includes any deed, grant, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, assignment, 22
and release, pertaining to land or property or any interest therein or appurtenant thereto, 23
including an interest in rents and profits from rents. 24
2 HOUSE BILL 1601

3–104. 1

(f) (7) IF A PURCHASER OR OTH ER PARTY HAS OBTAINE D TITLE 2
INSURANCE FOR A TRAN SACTION INVOLVING RE SIDENTIAL PROPERTY , A DEED 3
PRESENTED FOR RECORDING EFFECTING A CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP SHALL CONTAIN 4
THE NAME OF THE TITLE INSURER AND THE POLICY NUMBER. 5

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 6
October 1, 2026. 7