House Bill 776 - Remote Electronic Notarization Summary

• Establishes a new system allowing registered remote electronic notaries to perform notarial acts using audiovisual communication technology for principals located remotely within the United States, on U.S. military installations, or at U.S. embassies and consulates.

• Requires identity verification through credential analysis and identity proofing by third-party vendors approved by the Secretary of State, with real-time audio and video recording of all remote notarizations.

• Prohibits remote notarization of certain documents including self-proved wills, trusts, death beneficiary forms, and mail-in absentee ballots, except when the principal is a member of the Armed Forces or military-connected individual.

• Requires platforms used for remote notarization to be licensed by the Secretary of State with a $5,000 licensing fee and annual $5,000 renewal fee; platforms must collect $5.00 per remote notarial act and remit fees monthly to the Secretary.

• Increases maximum notary fees to $10.00 for traditional notarizations and $25.00 for remote electronic notarizations; becomes effective July 1, 2023.