TX SB693

Requires completion of education requirements established by the secretary of state for initial appointment as a notary public, and continuing education for reappointment, with a maximum of two hours required for each

Creates a criminal offense for notaries who knowingly perform notarizations when the signer did not personally appear before them, classified as a Class A misdemeanor or a state jail felony if the document involves real property transfers

Requires notaries public to retain notarization records for 10 years from the date of notarization

Adds failure to maintain required records as "good cause" for rejecting, revoking, or suspending a notary public commission

Applies to applications for notary appointment or reappointment submitted on or after January 1, 2026, with the secretary of state required to adopt implementing rules by that date; takes effect September 1, 2025