NM HB272

Creates new crimes of residential and commercial deed theft, defined as intentionally altering, falsifying, forging, or misrepresenting property documents to unlawfully transfer or encumber ownership rights

Theft of one commercial property is a third degree felony; theft of one residential property, mixed-use property with residential units, or two or more commercial properties is a second degree felony

Elevates the crime to a first degree felony when the stolen residential property is occupied as a home, or when the victim is 60 years or older, incompetent, incapacitated, or has a physical disability

Aggravated deed theft, a first degree felony, applies when a person commits deed theft of two or more residential properties

Covers real property and manufactured or modular homes, with specific definitions for commercial, residential, and mixed-use properties