On Monday, February 27, 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic (SECURE) Notarization Act of 2023. The bipartisan legislation was introduced earlier in February by Congressman Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) and Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (D-PA). The SECURE Notarization Act was first introduced in 2020, as a result of the increasing need to conduct business online and remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Currently, 42 states have passed legislation enabling the use of remote online notarization (RON). The SECURE Notarization Act would permit immediate nationwide use of remote online notarization. The bill would also allow the utilization of remote online notarization by notaries in interstate commerce, allow signers located outside of the U.S., and would establish minimum standards for remote online notarizations.
While the passage of the bill in the House of Representatives is a step toward national adoption of RON, the bill will need to pass in the Senate next. According to National Mortgage Professional, the SECURE Notarization Act will be reintroduced and will need to pass through a committee before it can be brought to the floor for a full Senate vote.
We'll publish more updates on the bill as they become available.
Did you know SoftPro offers our own RON + eSigning solution, SoftPro Sign?
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