Sub. S.B. No. 263 - Notary Public Modernization Act

• Establishes comprehensive modernization of Ohio notary public laws, including new requirements for notary appointments, education, criminal background checks, and commission renewal processes administered by the Secretary of State.

• Creates new provisions for online notarizations and electronic notarial acts, allowing notaries to perform notarizations via video and audio conference with specified identity verification and record-keeping requirements.

• Requires all notary applicants (except attorneys) to complete educational programs, pass tests, and submit criminal records checks within six months of application.

• Transfers notary commission oversight from county courts to the Secretary of State, who maintains an online database of commissioned notaries and handles disciplinary actions.

• Limits salvage vehicle title issuance until January 1, 2021 based on National Motor Vehicle Title Information System data, and creates a study committee to evaluate Ohio's use of federal salvage title reporting requirements.

• Authorizes oil and gas land professionals to engage in certain real estate activities if registered with the superintendent and properly disclosing their status to landowners.