Notary Law Update: MA House Bill 4850
State: Massachusetts
Summary:House Bill 4850 enacts into statute a journal exemption for attorneys similar to one in the modified Executive Order of Governor Romney, which became mandatory for all Massachusetts Notaries on May 15, 2004.
Signed:
June 25, 2004
Effective:
July 01, 2004
Chapter: 149
Affects:Amends M.G.L. Chapter 222 by adding a new Section 12
Changes: - Exempts attorneys and counselors-at-law, paralegals, legal secretaries and other legal staff who perform notarizations in their regular employment from keeping a journal of their Notary transactions.
Analysis:Tacked onto a budget bill, this new provision enacts into statute a journal exemption for attorneys similar to one in the modified Executive Order of Governor Romney, which became mandatory for all Massachusetts Notaries on May 15, 2004. The NNA urged the Governor to line-item veto this provision and he did so, on June 29, 2004. (Like his earlier veto of other Notary legislation, the veto appeared not to be based on a philosophical difference with the legislation but rather on removing any rules applying to Notaries apart from his Executive Order.) However, the Governor’s veto was overridden on July 22, 2004, by a 141-11 vote in the House and a 33-5 vote in the Senate.
Download PDF