South Carolina H 5159: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, RELATING TO STANDARDS FOR LICENSING HOSPICES, DESIGNATED AS REGULATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 4800, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 23, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE. - ratified title

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5159 Text of Previous Version (Feb. 11, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5159

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS 
BY ADDING SECTION 27-7-80 SO AS TO DEFINE TERMS RELATING TO REAL ESTATE FRAUD 
AND CREATE THE FELONY OF DEED THEFT.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Chapter 7, Title 27 of the 
S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 Section 
27-7-80. (A) As used in this section:

 (1) "Fraud," in addition to its normal 
legal connotation, means a misrepresentation in any manner, whether 
intentionally false or due to gross negligence, of a material fact, a promise 
or representation not made honestly and in good faith, and an intentional 
failure to disclose a material fact.

 (2) "Deed theft" or "title fraud" means 
a form of real estate fraud where criminals unlawfully transfer a property 
owner's title or deed to themselves or to another party.

 (3) "Real estate instrument" means any 
of the following instruments that convey, transfer, encumber, or affect real 
estate and property including, but not limited to, deeds, mortgages, liens as 
provided for by law, maps or plats relating to real estate in the county; state 
tax property notices; or any other document that is used to show ownership of 
real property in this State.

 (B) It is unlawful for a person to:

 (1) alter, forge, or counterfeit any 
real estate instruments;

 (2) possess or use a real estate 
instrument knowing it to have been altered, forged, or counterfeited; or

 (3) use a false or fictitious name or 
address, make a materially false statement, fail to disclose a security 
interest, or conceal any other material fact in the filing of a real estate 
instrument.

 (C) A person violating the provisions of 
this section is guilty of the felony of deed theft and, upon conviction, must 
be imprisoned not more than five years.

SECTION 
2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on February 11, 2026 at 01:40 PM