BillTrack50 logo
Free Signup Login
Bill

Bill > SB8

GA SB8

GA SB8
Courts; arrest warrant requirements when juvenile courts are acting as courts of inquiry; provide

summary

Introduced
01/14/2025
In Committee
03/25/2026
Crossed Over
02/10/2025
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

Potential new amendment
2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

AN ACT To amend Article 2 of Chapter 6 of Title 15 and Article 1 of Chapter 17 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to clerks of superior courts and general provisions regarding notaries public, respectively, so as to provide for remote online notaries public and remote online notarizations; to revise and provide for definitions; to revise the powers of the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority; to provide for requirements for remote online notaries public and remote online notarization; to provide that the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority may adopt certain standards for remote online notarization; to provide for application and appointment as a remote online notary public; to provide requirements for electronic journaling; to amend Part 2 of Article 15 of Chapter 1 of Title 10, Part 1 of Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 44 and Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the "Fair Business Practices Act of 1975," recording of deeds and other real property transactions and inspection of public records, respectively, so as to provide for an unfair or deceptive practice in consumer transactions in the recording of certain residential real estate documents; to revise recordation standards for deeds and other real property transactions requiring an official and an unofficial witness; to provide for the electronic execution of instruments, documents, deeds, and real estate documents; to provide that certain records of remote online notarization processes shall not be subject to public disclosure; to make certain acts of the S. B. 8 (SUB) unauthorized practice of law felonies and to provide for penalties therefore; to amend Article 3 of Chapter 19 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the regulation of practice of law, so as to make certain acts of the unauthorized practice of law felonies and to provide for penalties therefore; to provide for related matters; to provide effective dates and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

AI Summary

This bill significantly updates Georgia law regarding notaries public, particularly by authorizing and establishing regulations for remote online notarizations, which allow notaries to perform notarizations for individuals who are not physically present using communication technology. Key provisions include defining terms like "communication technology," "credential analysis," and "identity proofing" to facilitate these remote services, and empowering the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority to set technical standards for remote online notarizations. The bill also outlines the process for becoming a remote online notary public, including required training and examinations, and specifies requirements for electronic journaling and audiovisual recordings of remote notarizations, with these records being kept by a third-party repository and generally not subject to public disclosure. Furthermore, it addresses the electronic execution of documents, revises standards for recording real estate transactions, and makes certain acts related to the unauthorized practice of law felonies with associated penalties. The bill also clarifies that remote online notarizations are valid for most legal documents, with exceptions for wills and trusts, and allows for remote notarizations of individuals located outside of Georgia under specific conditions.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services, Justice

Sponsors (7)

Last Action

Floor Amendment - Floor Amend 1 (on 03/31/2026)

bill text

bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...
Loading...