LegislationJan 01, 2010 - Utah
UT Senate Bill 40 - In 2008, Utah enacted a law specifying types of ID that are not acceptable as satisfactory evidence of identity for Notaries and other governmental use. A driving privilege card was specifically named. SB 40 redefines more clearly than before who the holders of driving privilege cards would be.
LegislationJan 01, 2010 - Alabama
AL Senate Bill 90 - Alabama becomes the twenty-second state to enact the Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act, enabling county recorders to accept electronic real property documents for recording in conformance with technical standards set by a 14-member Electronic Recording Commission.
LegislationJan 01, 2010 - Oregon
OR House Bill 2085 - House Bill 2085 initiates important new changes in how Oregon Notaries identify document signers. The new law names four types of identification document that constitute satisfactory evidence of identity; clarifies that when one of these four IDs is not presented a Notary may accept a current ID issued by the U.S. federal government or a state, county, municipal or other local government and containing a photograph, signature and physical description; and repeals provisions allowing Notaries to accept two forms of identification and a signature card if the document signer is a customer of a financial institution. HB 2085 also permits Notaries to enter into an agreement to remit fees to a private employer and public bodies to collect fees charged by employees for notarial services.
LegislationJan 01, 2010 - Oregon
OR House Bill 2090 - In an effort to correct recent abuses of transactions involving Notary protests, House Bill 2090 limits performance of the notarial act of protest to certain Notaries an authorizes the Secretary of State to refuse to issue a commission or revoke or suspend the commission of any Notary who performs a protest while not authorized to do so.
Rule/Regulation
Jan 01, 2010 - Texas
TX Administrative Rule (2010) - The Texas Secretary of State adopts a number of general and specific changes to its administrative rules for Notaries.
Executive OrderNov 19, 2009 - Rhode Island
RI Executive Order 09-25 - Amendments to the Standards of Conduct for Notaries Public in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations effective November 18, 2009, include clarifications that a member of the Rhode Island General Assembly need not use an official seal when notarizing documents during open session on the floor of the Assembly, that a Rhode Island attorney need not keep an journal of notarial acts, that the Standards of Conduct do not impair or infringe upon the attorney-client privilege or attorney work product doctrine and that the certificates for notarial acts in the Standards are not intended to replace or supercede the existing forms used for the conveyance of real estate or in other legal documents, particularly those certificates approved by any committee of the Rhode Island Bar Association.
LegislationOct 11, 2009 - California
CA Senate Bill 94 - Reacting to what has become a very troubling development in the mortgage finance and real estate industry, Senate Bill 94 prohibits any person, including a real estate licensee or attorney from offering or negotiating foreclosure rescue or loan modification services from charging an advance fee before performing all services provided in the contract for services and requires a specific written notification be included in the contract for such services so homeowners can know that the services of these intermediaries are not required. This new law should signal a warning to California Notaries and Signing Agents not to accept offers for assignments from firms who engage in these unscrupulous practices.
LegislationOct 01, 2009 - Montana
MT Senate Bill 299 - Senate Bill 299 establishes both a journal and an education requirement for Montana Notaries. It requires that all first-time applicants for a Notary commission, and all existing Notaries seeking reappointment against whom a complaint has been filed or evidence of improperly notarized documents has been submitted to the Secretary of State, take a training course. The new law also requires use of an inking seal alone as the official seal. It shortens the residency requirement for commission applicants from 1 year to 30 days.
LegislationOct 01, 2009 - Connecticut
CT House Bill 6802 - HB 6802 raises the Notary commission application fee to $120, the fee for reporting a change of address or name to $15 and the fee for filing a corrected Notary commission issued in a new name with the town clerk to $15.
LegislationSep 28, 2009 - Oregon
OR House Bill 3405 - House Bill 3405 raises the commissioning fee for Oregon Notary commissions from $20 to $40.