SECURE Notarization Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Bentz
Introduced
Summary
This bill creates national rules for electronic and remote notarizations and sets minimum standards for identity checks, recordings, and interstate recognition so notarized documents can move across state lines more easily. It preserves State authority to regulate notaries while forcing basic nationwide safeguards for transactions that affect interstate commerce.
Show full summary
- Families and households can complete notarized legal paperwork across state lines without in-person visits, including some overseas signings that are tied to U.S. matters. This should speed closings and other routine transactions.
- Notaries and service providers must verify identity by personal knowledge or at least two methods, record remote notarizations with audio and video, and keep recordings for at least 5 years or 10 years if no State retention period exists. States can add standards, create special commissions, and punish false advertising.
- Federal courts and States must recognize out-of-State notarizations in specified circumstances and treat them as presumptively genuine, while a preemption framework and the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts give States room to align with the law.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
States keep control over notaries
If enacted, States could set training, testing, and endorsements for electronic and remote notarizations. They could deny, suspend, or revoke a commission and sanction notaries for breaches. States could adopt uniform notary laws or set procedures that fit this Act without favoring a specific technology. State law would have to require keeping remote‑notary recordings at least 5 years. This would keep State control while setting a national floor.
Courts and states accept more notarizations
If enacted, federal courts would have to accept notarizations that are valid under the notary’s State law or this Act. States would also have to accept out‑of‑State notarizations tied to their public acts or to interstate commerce. A notary’s signature and title would serve as proof of genuineness and, for certain officers, conclusive authority. A missed step under this Act would not by itself void a notarization. People could still ask a court to undo a record for fraud, forgery, or lack of capacity.
Online notarization adds ID checks and recordings
If enacted, notaries could perform electronic and remote notarizations for deals that affect interstate commerce. They would need to verify identity by personal knowledge, two separate ID checks, or a credible witness. They would have to make an audio‑video recording of each remote notarization and keep it. Recordings would be kept at least the State retention period or 5 years; if the State has no rule, 10 years. Notaries could be barred if they lack a required State endorsement, are sanctioned, or use deceptive ads; a signer’s written statement could prove the notary disclosed these bans.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Bentz
OR • R
Cosponsors
Dean (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Fedorchak
ND • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Griffith
VA • R
Sponsored 3/4/2025
Velazquez
NY • D
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Neguse
CO • D
Sponsored 5/20/2025
Kustoff
TN • R
Sponsored 5/20/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 6/11/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in