This bill amends provisions of the Notaries Public Reform Act.
This bill:
- defines terms;
- modifies requirements for providing satisfactory evidence of identity;
- for a notary who, on or after May 6, 2026, receives a notary commission, or receives a new notary commission:
implements a requirement for the notary to keep a journal; andmodifies requirements for the content of a journal;
- modifies requirements relating to the retention of a journal or an electronic recording of a remote notarization;
- provides that a journal or an electronic recording of a remote notarization are not records under the Government Records Access and Management Act;
- describes the circumstances under which a journal may be inspected;
- makes it a crime to, without legal authority, use, forge, or take certain other actions in relation to a notarization, a journal, an official seal, or other items relating to notarization;
- describes the action that a notary is required to take upon discovery of:a crime described in this bill; orthe loss, damage, or destruction of a journal or related items;
- exempts attorneys, law firms, and title agencies from certain requirements relating to a journal; and
- makes technical and conforming changes.Statutes affected:
Introduced: 46-1-2, 46-1-3.6, 46-1-3.7, 46-1-6, 46-1-13, 46-1-14, 46-1-15, 46-1-16
Substitute #1: 46-1-2, 46-1-3.6, 46-1-3.7, 46-1-6, 46-1-13, 46-1-14, 46-1-15, 46-1-16
Enrolled: 46-1-2, 46-1-3.6, 46-1-3.7, 46-1-6, 46-1-13, 46-1-14, 46-1-15, 46-1-16
Substitute #2: 46-1-2, 46-1-3.6, 46-1-3.7, 46-1-6, 46-1-13, 46-1-14, 46-1-15, 46-1-16