Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

House gives notaries public bill its stamp of approval

Minnesotans could apply to become online notaries public and complete that work remotely.

In an effort to join a nationwide push to update the laws governing notaries, the House passed HF1609/SF893* Wednesday, sponsored by Rep. Dennis Smith (R-Maple Grove) and Sen. Jerry Relph (R-St. Cloud) on a 127-0 vote, sending it to the governor. The Senate passed the bill 63-0 on May 9.

The bill would be a massive overhaul of Chapter 358 in state statue, with a wide array of changes. Notably, however, the bill would create the so-called “Remote Online Notarization Act,” which would allow electronic documents with electronic signatures to be used when the law requires paper documents that are signed, including documents under oath.

The bill would make it a crime to obtain or damage the gear needed to create electronic signatures or stamps without authorization.

Nine other states, including Iowa and North Dakota, have passed the Revised Law on Notarial Acts and seven others are considering the legislation, according to the Uniform Law Commission.

 


Related Articles


Priority Dailies

Minnesota’s projected budget surplus balloons to $3.7 billion, but fiscal pressure still looms
(House Photography file photo) Just as Minnesota has experienced a warmer winter than usual, so has the state’s budget outlook warmed over the past few months. On Thursday, Minnesota Management and Budget...
Legislative leaders announce 2024 committee deadlines
(House Photography file photo) Legislators and the public officially know the timeline for getting bills through the House committee process during the upcoming 2024 session. Here are the two deadlines fo...

Minnesota House on Twitter