Bill > SB0139

This bill amends the Notaries Public Reform Act to modernize notary procedures, particularly concerning electronic and remote notarizations. Key changes include defining terms like "electronic journal" and "secondary authentication of identity," which refers to verifying a person's identity through methods like knowledge-based questions or biometric analysis for remote notarizations. The bill also updates requirements for keeping journals, mandating that notaries commissioned on or after May 6, 2026, must maintain both physical and electronic journals for a period of 10 years, and clarifies the procedures for remote notarizations, including the creation of electronic recordings. Additionally, it revises rules regarding the use of official seals, specifying that seals used for remote notarizations should be in black ink, and introduces new provisions for unlawful interference with notary records and equipment, classifying such acts as a class B misdemeanor. The bill also clarifies that journals and electronic recordings of remote notarizations are not considered public records under the Government Records Access and Management Act.

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https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/SB0139.html