Summary

Creates national rules for electronic and remote notarization and tells courts and states to recognize valid notarizations done under these rules or under a state’s own law. It sets minimum identity‑proofing, audio‑video recording, and tamper‑evident technology standards, while explicitly letting states continue to regulate notaries and adopt their own compatible frameworks. People can appear by secure video instead of in person, and that counts as appearing before a notary for transactions in or affecting interstate commerce. The bill protects consumers from deceptive notary advertising (like claiming to provide legal or immigration services), preserves existing remedies for fraud or incapacity, and does not force any notary to use electronic tools or perform remote notarizations.

Key Points

• Establishes national recognition and minimum standards for electronic and remote notarizations tied to interstate commerce.
• Preserves robust state authority to regulate notaries and consumer protection, including bans on deceptive legal/immigration-service advertising.
• Remote audiovisual appearance can satisfy in‑person appearance requirements when minimum safeguards are met.
• Requires tamper‑evident attachment/association of the notary’s electronic signature and information to the electronic record.
• Mandates federal courts and states to recognize qualifying notarizations from other states, with presumptions of authenticity.
• Lets states adopt RULONA (2018 or 2021) or compatible alternative procedures; requires at least 5‑year retention of remote notarization recordings.
• Does not force notaries to perform electronic or remote notarizations or use specific technology.
• Technical noncompliance does not automatically void a notarization; traditional defenses and remedies (fraud, incapacity, duress) remain.
• Does not change state laws on the practice of law; protects consumers through advertising limits and disclosures.
• Includes a severability clause to keep the rest of the law in force if any part is struck down.

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