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SSB 1071

A bill for an act requiring that land within a levee or drainage district be included in an abstract of title.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Requires noting land within a levee or drainage district in abstracts of title, improving transparency for buyers and lenders by clearly showing district status.

Subcommittee: Sweeney, Staed, and Westrich.
#attorneys #drainagedistricts #leveedistricts #levees #realproperty #soilandwaterconservation #titles(property)
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Bill Summary · SSB 1071

Summary of SSB 1071 (2025)

Bill at a glance

  • Bill number: SSB 1071
  • Title: A bill for an act requiring that land within a levee or drainage district be included in an abstract of title
  • Status: Subcommittee — Sweeney, Staed, and Westrich
  • Introduced: January 29, 2025
  • Referred to: Natural Resources and Environment
  • Subject: Attorneys, drainage districts, levee districts, levees, real property, soil and water conservation, titles (property)

Purpose and intent

SSB 1071 would require that, when preparing an abstract of title for land located within an existing levee or drainage district, the attorney or abstractor clearly indicate that the land is part of that district. The goal is to improve transparency and accuracy in property records by ensuring district membership is disclosed in title documents.

Key provisions

  • New requirement: The act adds a new Section 468.12A (Abstract).
  • Scope: Applies to land located within an existing levee or drainage district.
  • Mandatory disclosure: An attorney or abstractor preparing an abstract of title for such land must indicate that the land is part of the levee or drainage district.
  • Explanatory note: The bill includes an explanatory section stating that the inclusion of the explanation does not reflect an endorsement by General Assembly members. This is a non-binding clarification often included with such bills.

Who is affected

  • Primary actors: Attorneys and abstractors who prepare abstracts of title.
  • Landowners and prospective buyers/sellers: Indirectly affected by the need for clearer district status in title records.
  • Title companies and lenders: May see changes in due diligence and documentation practices when dealing with land inside levee/drainage districts.
  • Levee and drainage districts: Boundaries and district membership disclosures could interact with property records and assessments.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Introduced: January 29, 2025.
  • Referral: Natural Resources and Environment.
  • Subcommittee action: Scheduled for January 30, 2025 (Sweeney, Staed, Westrich).
  • The bill’s text does not specify an effective date; details would be determined if the measure progresses and is enacted.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Transparency in title work: Expected to improve accuracy by clearly identifying land within district boundaries on abstracts of title.
  • Operational impact: Attorneys and abstractors may need to adjust standard language and forms to consistently include district status.
  • Market effects: Buyers and lenders gain clearer information, potentially affecting due diligence and closing practices for properties within levee or drainage districts.
  • Policy considerations: No penalties or enforcement mechanisms are stated in the introduced text; if enacted, enforcement details would be defined in subsequent amendments.

This summary reflects the introduced version and current subcommittee status.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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