Notarize Applauds House for Passing the SECURE Notarization Act of 2023

Earlier today, February 27, 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 1059 — the SECURE Notarization Act of 2023 — by voice vote.

Notarize applauds the House for this monumental decision — one that paves the way for nationwide access to Remote Online Notarization (RON) — and urges the Senate to follow suit.

In addition to the 23 bipartisan cosponsors who supported the passage of the SECURE Notarization Act, we’d like to thank Representatives Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) and Madeleine Dean (D-PA) for championing the legislation and reintroducing it in the House this Congress.

Why It’s Important:

The SECURE Notarization Act will not only authorize notaries nationwide to utilize RON but also establish national minimum consumer protection and fraud prevention standards while allowing states the flexibility to supplement with their own standards. 

Currently, there are 42 states and counting across the country who have led on this issue and Notarize is committed to working closely with every state to ensure that the implementation of RON is seamless and set up for long-term success. Now, the federal government has a critical opportunity provided by today's developments to not only prioritize nationwide digital transformation with greater clarity and consistency, but also to improve the lives of millions of Americans and cultivate a stronger culture of sustainability.

And, it gets even better: the SECURE Notarization Act simplifies the governing rules pertaining to the use of notarized documents across state lines — otherwise known as interstate recognition — under federal law. Meaning the validity of notarizations across jurisdictions is controlled by a single statute rather than a patchwork.

What Happens Next:

Here’s looking at you, Senate! Following its passage in the House, the SECURE Notarization Act will be taken to the Senate, where it has previously garnered strong bipartisan support. We look forward to working with Members on both sides of the aisle in the coming weeks to bring this legislation one step closer to the finish line and getting it signed into law.

Lastly, we’d be remiss not to…

...share our pride in and gratitude for our larger coalition, which includes significant representation by members spanning the real estate, banking, technology, legal, and automotive industries. We look forward to creating a positive and lasting impact with you for years to come.