Maryland Passes Remote Online Notarization Bill

Maryland has become the latest state to advance remote online notarization (RON) legislation, with Senate Bill 678 receiving support and moving to Governor Larry Hogan's desk for signature. If signed into law, the bill is expected to bring the benefits of RON to an additional 80,000 notaries in Maryland beginning October 1, 2020.

The passage of RON legislation in Maryland marks a significant milestone, contributing to the unprecedented momentum in the adoption of policies related to remote online notarization. In 2019 alone, eight states have passed RON bills, equaling the total from the previous three years combined. The states of Arizona, Idaho, Kentucky, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Montana have already embraced RON legislation, extending its benefits to hundreds of thousands of new notaries.

Maryland's move toward RON is part of a broader trend in modernizing notarial practices, making them safer, simpler, and more efficient. The increasing support for RON legislation reflects the growing recognition of its advantages in streamlining notarization processes.