Rep. Reives files bill in North Carolina House to strengthen homeowner protections

A new bill filed by State Rep. Robert T. Reives, II seeks to enhance protections against fraudulent property claims and streamline legal remedies for affected homeowners, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 360 on March 10 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Homeowner Protection Act.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill, named the Homeowner Protection Act, introduces new criminal penalties for certain fraudulent instruments and aims to provide expedited relief for victims. It elevates forgery related to residential property to a Class D felony and establishes a system for owners to challenge false instruments recorded against their property. The bill allows courts to void fraudulent documents, grant possession to rightful owners, and impose penalties, including up to $10,000 for frivolous filings. It also mandates verification of suspicious instruments and outlines criteria under which a deed won’t be presumed valid based on registration alone. Sections 1 and 2 become effective Dec. 1, 2025, while Sections 3 and 4 take effect July 1, 2025.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Reives proposed the most bills (12) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Reives graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1992 with a BA and again in 1995 from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a JD.

Reives, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2014 to represent the state’s 54th House district, replacing previous state representative Deb McManus.