House Bill No. 4203 introduces new education requirements for individuals seeking appointment as notaries public in Texas. The bill mandates that the Secretary of State establish rules for both initial appointment and continuing education for reappointment. Specifically, it requires applicants to 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 courses that meet these educational standards and publishing a list of approved courses online.

The bill also introduces a civil penalty for individuals who provide notary public education in violation of the established rules, with fines up to $1,000 for each violation. It amends existing qualifications for notaries to include successful completion of the new education requirements. The changes will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply to applications submitted on or after July 1, 2026. Notaries appointed before this date will need to complete the education requirements before their first reappointment after July 1, 2026.

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