This bill amends Section 113 of Title 49 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which pertains to the responsibilities and penalties associated with notaries public. The amendments clarify the requirements for notarial acts, including acknowledgment, verification, witnessing, and certifying documents. Notably, the bill specifies that a notarial officer must determine the identity of the person appearing before them through personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence. It also outlines the conditions under which a notarial officer can certify copies of documents and the requirements for making a protest of a negotiable instrument.

Significantly, the bill increases the penalties for notarial officers who fail to make the required identity determinations before performing notarial acts. The previous penalty of a misdemeanor is changed to a felony, with fines raised from a maximum of $1,000 to $5,000, and the potential for imprisonment extended from ten days to thirty days. This legislation is set to take effect on November 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-113