Bill > HB73

This bill, known as the Notary Integrity and Property Protection Act of 2025, introduces several significant changes to Alabama's notary public regulations. The bill reduces the commission term for notaries public from four years to two years, starting October 1, 2026, and requires notary seals to have embedded identifying information including the notary's full legal name, commission number, expiration date, and official title. The legislation strengthens application requirements by mandating a training program for new notaries and establishing stricter grounds for denying or revoking commissions, such as criminal convictions or bankruptcy. It also introduces more rigorous penalties for notarial misconduct, including making it a Class C misdemeanor to use an expired commission or charge excessive fees, and a Class D felony for intentionally committing fraud during notarial acts. The bill enhances enforcement mechanisms by allowing parties to a transaction to file affidavits of potential violations with the Secretary of State or local probate judges, which can then be investigated by law enforcement. Additionally, the bill prohibits manual alterations to notary stamps and requires the Secretary of State to conduct verification checks during commission renewals, with potential suspension or revocation of commissions for violations.

Government Affairs

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