Bill > SB2359

This bill amends Texas notary public regulations by introducing several key changes: it adds a requirement for notaries to successfully complete education courses when initially applying for and being reappointed as a notary public, with the secretary of state limited to requiring no more than two hours of education for each process. The bill creates a new criminal offense for notaries who perform notarizations when the signer is not personally present, which is classified as a Class A misdemeanor (or a state jail felony if the document involves real property transfer). The bill also mandates that notaries retain their notarization records for ten years and expands the definition of "good cause" for revoking a notary's commission to include failure to maintain records. An important clarification is provided for what constitutes "personal appearance," which includes both physical in-person appearances and online notarizations using approved two-way video and audio conference technology. These changes will apply to notary public applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026, with the secretary of state required to adopt implementing rules by that date, and the entire act taking effect on September 1, 2025.

Government Affairs

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB2359