HB 1154 Mississippi House · 2025 Regular Session

Mississippi Law on Notarial Acts; revise to allow notaries to perform remote online notarization.

HB 1154 allows Mississippi notaries to perform remote online notarizations (RON) starting July 1, 2025. It directly affects notaries public and residents needing notarized documents, enabling remote transactions via video technology. Key provisions require audio-visual recording of all remote notarizations, define terms like "remote online notarization," mandate clear identification of remote individuals, and authorize notaries to certify electronic copies. The bill also clarifies fee structures and ensures existing notarial acts remain valid, with the Secretary of State establishing implementation rules.

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 17, 2025 Last action Mar 4, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced → Current version · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Mississippi's notary laws to modernize remote online notarization (RON) and remote ink-signed notarization (RIN) procedures. It adds new definitions for electronic notarization, identity verification methods, and communication technology requirements. The bill also establishes maximum fees for notaries, mandates audio-visual recording of remote notarizations, and updates notary certificate forms to reflect remote notarization practices.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of notarial acts to include remote procedures, applies to notarial acts performed on or after July 1, 2025, and clarifies that existing commissions remain valid until expiration.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for remote online notarization (RON), remote ink-signed notarization (RIN), communication technology, credential analysis, identity proofing, and electronic notarization systems.

REQUIREMENT

Requires notaries to use at least two different types of identity proofing for remote notarizations and mandates audio-visual recording of all remote notarizations.

Requires notaries to refuse remote notarizations if they cannot operate the required technology or if the technology doesn't meet state standards.

FISCAL

Sets maximum fee of $5.00 for notarial services and clarifies that notaries are not required to charge fees.

TIMELINE

Establishes July 1, 2025 as the effective date for new requirements while grandfathering existing commissions and prior notarizations.

TECHNICAL

Updates notary certificate forms to include statements indicating when communication technology was used in the notarization process.

Floor votes · House Feb 12, 2025

How they voted

90–15

Passed · 14 other

Total votes 119

Feb 12, 2025

D Democratic39

30 Yea 5 Nay 4

76% Yea

I Independent2

2 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican78

58 Yea 10 Nay 10

74% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 18, 2025

Committee

Referred To Judiciary, Division A

upper

Feb 17, 2025

Introduced

Transmitted To Senate

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed As Amended

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amended

lower

Feb 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

Jan 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass

lower

Jan 20, 2025

Committee

Referred To Business and Commerce

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor