Armstrong introduces notarization reform bill

U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) on June 17 led a bipartisan contingent of 31 other original cosponsors to introduce legislation that would modernize the United States notarization process.

Rep. Armstrong joined bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) to introduce the bipartisan Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote Electronic Notarization Act of 2021, or the SECURE Notarization Act of 2021, H.R. 3962. The proposed legislation would authorize public notaries to perform and establish minimum standards for electronic notarizations and remote notarizations that occur in or affect interstate commerce, according to the congressional record bill summary.

Specifically, H.R. 3962 aims to allow every notary in the U.S. to perform Remote Online Notarization (RON), as well as allow signers located outside of the U.S. to securely notarize documents, according to Rep. Armstrong’s office.

“Remote online notarization offers consumers a convenient way to safely and securely complete documents,” Rep. Armstrong said. “Our bipartisan bill will permit nationwide use of remote online notarization, increasing access to this important process.”

Additionally, H.R. 3962 would require any federal court to recognize notarizations performed by a notarial officer of any state, and in turn would require any state to recognize notarizations performed by a notarial officer of any other state, among other provisions, according to the summary.

Among the members who joined Rep. Armstrong as original cosponsors of H.R. 3962 are U.S. Reps. Andy Barr (R-KY), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), Young Kim (R-CA), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Bryan Steil (R-WI), and Ann Wagner (R-MO).

Companion legislation, S. 1625, was introduced in May by U.S. Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Mark Warner (D-VA) in their chamber.