Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee SB1985: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8; Title 23; Title 39; Title 45; Title 47, Chapter 18; Title 56; Title 62 and Title 66, relative to real property.
Status: Chaptered, May 26, 2026
Fiscal Summary NOT SIGNIFICANT Bill Summary Present law requires a foreign title insurance company desiring to transact a title insurance business in this state to first file with the commissioner a written power of attorney appointing and authorizing the commissioner as its agent for the purpose of acknowledging or receiving service of process and upon whom process may be served, in all proceedings that may be instituted against the company in any court of this state, or in any court of the United States in this state, which power of attorney continues in force so long as any liability remains outstanding against the insurer in this state. This bill removes the requirements described above and only requires such foreign title insurance company to maintain an office within this state so long as any liability remains outstanding against the insurer in this state. PREMIUM FOR TITLE INSURANCE This bill requires the premium for title insurance to be paid equally by the buyer and the seller of the real property for which title insurance is being issued. CONTRACT FOR CONVEYANCE OF REAL PROPERTY FOR NON-RESIDENTS This bill requires a contract for conveyance of real property to a purchaser who is not a resident of this state to include the designation of an agent for the purchaser within the state for the purpose of acknowledging or receiving service of process and upon whom process may be served, in all proceedings that may be instituted against the purchaser in any court of this state, or in any court of the United States in this state. This bill prohibits the register of deeds from recording a deed for conveyance of real property unless the deed has been prepared by an attorney licensed in this state. The attorney must include the attorney's board of professional responsibility number on the deed. A deed recorded on
What the bill says
From the amended text:
Senate Commerce and Labor 1 Amendment No. 1 to SB1985 Bailey Signature of Sponsor AMEND S e n ate Bill No. 1985* House Bill No. 1970 by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 66-5-105, is amended by deleting the first sentence and substituting: The description of real property contained within a deed of conveyance of a property not previously described in a recorded instrument must be prepared by a land surveyor, as defined in § 62-18-102, who is registered pursuant to § 62-18-101, or by a licensed attorney utilizing a survey prepared by a licensed land surveyor who is registered pursuant to § 62-18-101. SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it. SA1016