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FL House Bill 915

Legislation

State: Florida
Signed: May 22, 2025

Effective: July 01, 2025
Chapter: 82

Summary

House Bill 915 Prohibits Notaries from using specified immigration-related terms to describe themselves when advertising and requires businesses or persons offering immigration services to make a specified disclosure about their nonlegal immigration services.

Affects

Adds Sections 501.1391 and 117.051 to and amends Section 117.05 of the Florida Statutes.

Changes
  1. Prohibits a Notary Public who is not authorized to represent a person in an immigration matter, when advertising Notary Public services, from using the terms notario público, notario, immigration assistant, immigration consultant, or immigration specialist, or any other designation or title, in any language, which conveys or implies that he or she possesses professional legal skills in immigration law.
  2. Provides that a person has a civil cause of action for damages, declaratory or injunctive relief, and reasonable attorney fees and costs against a Notary who uses the terms specified above in their advertisements.
  3. Requires a business or person offering immigration services, other than a person holding an active license to practice law in this state or otherwise permitted to practice law or represent others under federal law in an immigration matter, to post on the business's or person's main website and at the business's or person's place of business, in English and in every other language in which the business or person provides or offers immigration services, conspicuous notices with a prescribed statement, as specified.
  4. Provides that a person has a civil cause of action for damages, declaratory or injunctive relief, and reasonable attorney fees and costs against a business that does not include the prescribed notice on their websites and places of business.
Analysis

It is puzzling that Florida took so long to penalize Notaries who mislead immigrants by using immigration-related language in their advertising, implying they are qualified to offer legal immigration advice and representation. Most other states enacted such prohibitions years earlier, banning Notaries from using terms like “notario público” or other immigration-related language that could create the false impression of legal expertise.

Notably, in establishing these restrictions and introducing a private right of action for violations, the Florida Legislature acknowledged the existence of businesses that provide nonlegal immigration assistance. These businesses serve immigrants who cannot afford an attorney but still need help with tasks such as translation and completing forms—services that are clerical and ministerial in nature. Under the new law, such businesses must now post a specific notice, both on their websites and at their physical locations, in English and in every language in which they offer immigration services, to clarify that they do not provide legal immigration services.

Read House Bill 915.

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