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Read. Follow. Verify.Texas creates criminal offenses for real property theft and fraud, sets mandatory restitution, and requires photo ID for deed recordings
Last action · August 19, 2025: FiledSponsor: Leo Wilson
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What This Bill Proposed
Texas establishes new criminal offenses for real property theft and real property fraud, punishable as felonies ranging from the third to the first degree depending on property value and victim characteristics. The legislation requires anyone filing real property documents in person to present photo identification, mandates restitution for victims, and sets a 10-year statute of limitations for these crimes.
Property owners face harsher penalties for fraudulent conveyances, while victims gain explicit statutory rights to restitution and legal fees; meanwhile, anyone filing real property instruments in person must present government-issued photo identification to county clerks.
- Real property fraud involving forged deeds and fraudulent liens has been a growing concern for property owners and county recording offices across Texas. context
- House Bill 258 was filed in the Texas House of Representatives during the 89th legislative session by Representative Leo Wilson. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Property owners
Property owners receive enhanced criminal penalties for theft of their land and gain explicit statutory rights to restitution and recovery of legal fees.
County clerks
County clerks must verify and copy photo identification for in-person document filings, record specific judgment information, and notify law enforcement of fraudulent filings.
Title companies and insurers
Title companies and insurers are eligible for direct restitution payments when they pay claims based on real property offenses.
Individuals accused of property crimes
Defendants face new specific felony charges, extended 10-year statutes of limitations, and mandatory restitution requirements.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the penalty for real property theft under the bill?
Do I need to show identification when recording a deed at the county clerk's office?
What restitution must a convicted defendant pay?
What is the statute of limitations for prosecuting real property fraud and theft?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · introduced in the House.
Procedural history
1 action- Aug 19, 2025HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Creation of Dedicated Property Crimes
The bill shifts real property fraud and theft from general theft and forgery statutes into dedicated criminal offenses with specific valuation tiers and restitution rules.
Connected Entities
Sources
capitol.texas.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 85)
- Controversy25Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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