Bill > HB1578

This bill modifies existing Oklahoma state law regarding the responsibilities and penalties for notaries public. The legislation strengthens requirements for notarial officers when performing various official acts, such as taking acknowledgments, verifying signatures, and certifying documents. Specifically, the bill changes the criminal penalty for a notary who fails to properly verify a person's identity from a misdemeanor to a felony, and increases the potential fine from $1,000 to $5,000. Additionally, the maximum potential jail sentence is extended from 10 to 30 days. The bill maintains the existing standards that require notaries to determine a person's identity through personal knowledge, credible witnesses, or identification documents before performing notarial acts. These changes aim to enhance the integrity and accountability of notarial services by imposing more serious consequences for improper verification of identity. The bill is set to take effect on November 1, 2025, giving notaries and legal professionals time to understand and comply with the new requirements.

Government Affairs, Justice

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb1578&Session=2600