Senate Bill 2722 Summary

• Establishes the "Revised Mississippi Law on Notarial Acts" effective July 1, 2019, replacing prior notary public statutes and transferring notary commission authority from the Governor to the Secretary of State.

• Authorizes notary publics, elected judges, court clerks, and the Secretary of State to perform notarial acts including acknowledgments, administering oaths, certifying depositions, and witnessing signatures, with a maximum fee of $5.00 per service.

• Requires notary applicants to be at least 18 years old, Mississippi residents for 30+ days, able to read and write English, and maintain a $5,000 surety bond; commissions last four years and must comply with identity verification requirements.

• Mandates notaries maintain an official seal, stamping device, and contemporaneous journal of all notarial acts with specific information including date, time, signer identity, and fees charged.

• Prohibits notaries from practicing law, providing immigration services, using misleading titles or advertising, and imposes criminal penalties up to five years imprisonment and $5,000 fine for repeated violations of these restrictions.