The bill amends the Government Code to establish new education requirements for individuals seeking appointment as notaries public in Texas. It introduces Section 406.0045, which mandates that the secretary of state adopt rules for both initial appointment and continuing education for reappointment. Specifically, applicants must complete six hours of education and pass a written examination for initial appointment, while reapplicants must complete three hours of continuing education. Additionally, the secretary of state is tasked with approving third-party education courses and may also provide education courses directly.

The bill also includes provisions for civil penalties, stating that individuals who violate the education requirements may face fines up to $1,000 per violation. It modifies existing qualifications for notary public applicants by adding the successful completion of the new education requirements as a condition for qualification. The changes will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply to applications submitted on or after July 1, 2026, allowing current notaries time to comply with the new requirements before their first reappointment after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 406.006, Government Code 406.011 (Government Code 406)
House Committee Report: Government Code 406.006, Government Code 406.011 (Government Code 406)