Utah Passes Remote Online Notarization Bill

Utah Governor Gary Herbert signed House Bill 52 into law, making Utah the latest state to support statewide remote online notarization (RON) adoption and regulation. This legislation allows an additional 22,000 notaries public in Utah to participate in the RON marketplace, offering their services globally. The law will go into effect on November 1, 2019.

The swift passage of the bill, taking only two weeks from introduction in the House to passing in the Senate, demonstrates Utah's commitment to embracing this technology. Pat Kinsel, the Founder and CEO of Notarize, expressed pride in the partnership with industry leaders such as Elevated Title, which played a role in advancing this initiative. Elevated Title's Chief Business Officer, Brian Lemke, stated that the announcement brings their vision of using technology to improve the home buying and refinance experience to Utah.

Utah's adoption of RON adds to the momentum of the online notarization movement. In 2018, six states, including Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Tennessee, and Vermont, approved similar legislation, with more than a dozen other states introducing similar bills. The legislative progress in Utah is seen as a positive development in the broader landscape of remote online notarization.

This legislative move in Utah reflects the ongoing growth and acceptance of RON, and it is anticipated that similar developments will continue in 2019.