CT SB00294

Trade name certificates valid for 5 years must be filed with town clerks using forms prescribed by the Secretary of State; all certificates issued before January 1, 2025 expire on December 31, 2029, and business organizations may only file if active and in good standing

Trade names cannot contain terms like "corporation," "LLC," "limited partnership," or similar business designators; violations are void by operation of law

Persons soliciting fees for filing documents with the Secretary of State must include prominent disclaimers stating "This is an advertisement" and "THIS IS NOT A GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT" in 24-point type, with violations constituting deceptive trade practices

Secretary of State gains authority to verify business registry data, mark unauthorized filings, restore prior data, and administratively dissolve entities that cannot be authenticated; may also issue apostilles in electronic format

Notary fees increase from $5 to $10 per act, plus mileage at the IRS business standard rate (replacing the fixed 35 cents per mile)