This act provides that each candidate for county recorder shall provide to the election authority a copy of an affidavit from a surety company authorized to do business in this state that indicates the candidate is about to satisfy the bond requirements of the office.

Additionally, under current law, all recorders of deeds elected in first, second, and third classification counties shall enter into bond with the state for an amount set by the county commission. However, this amount shall not be less than one thousand dollars with sufficient sureties. Under this act, these provisions shall only apply to recorders of deeds elected prior to January 1, 2022.

This act provides that all recorders of deeds elected after December 31, 2021, in first, second, and third classification counties shall enter into bond with the state for an amount set by the county commission of not be less than five thousand dollars with sufficient sureties.

This act is substantially similar to SB 987 (2020) and SB 468 (2019) and substantially similar to SS#2/SCS/HCS/HB 1854 (2020).

ONLINE APPLICATIONS OF THE COUNTY RECORDER OF DEEDS (Section 451.040)

This act provides that applicants for a marriage license may present an application for the license to the recorder of deeds in person or electronically through an online process.

Additionally, in the event a recorder of deeds utilizes an online process to accept applications for a marriage license or to issue a marriage license and the applicants' identity has not been verified in person, the recorder shall have a two-step identity verification process or other process that verifies the identity of the applicants. Finally, the recorder shall not accept applications for or issue marriage licenses through an online process unless at least one of the applicants is a resident of the county in which the application was submitted.

These provisions are identical to HB 144 (2021).

MARY GRACE BRUNTRAGER