An Act To Increase Fees Paid To Registers Of Deeds

This bill increases fees charged to individuals and businesses using county land records services in Maine. It sets a flat $45 fee for recording property deeds (up from $19), raises the fee for recording property plans to $45 (from $21), and adjusts electronic image fees to $0.50 per image after the first 100 free images annually. The bill also increases the per-document surcharge from $3 to $5, repeals a $13 fee for multiple instrument requests, and makes annual reporting of surcharge funds optional unless requested by lawmakers. These changes directly affect homebuyers, real estate professionals, and anyone accessing or recording property records.