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OK Senate Bill 1028

Legislation

State: Oklahoma

Effective: January 01, 2026
Chapter: 238

Summary

Senate Bill 1028 requires Notaries to pass a background check, raises the bond, and increase fees for applying for and renewing a commission and filing the bond.

Affects

Amends Sections 1 and 2 of title 49 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Changes
  1. Requires a background checking to be conducted electronically for all Notary commission applicants.
  2. Directs the State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) to electronically obtain fingerprints of each Notary Public commission applicant.
  3. Directs the OSBI to require a Notary commission applicant pay a $50 fee or the cost of the search, whichever is lower, for the cost of the background search.
  4. Directs the OSBI to provide the results of the background search to the Secretary of State within 14 working days from the receipt of the request.
  5. Authorizes the OSBI to contact the FBI to obtain the information requested.
  6. Raises the amount of the Notary bond from $1,000 to $10,000.
  7. Raises the Notary commission application fee from $25 to $50 and the renewal application fee from $20 to $45.
  8. Raises the same day filing service fee from $25 to $50.
  9. Raises the Notary bond filing fee from $10 to $25.
  10. Makes a technical correction.
Analysis

Senate Bill 1028, which became law without the Governor’s signature, raises the Notary bond from $1,000 to $10,000, raises the bond filing fee from $10 to $25, raises the commission application fee from $25 to $50, and raises the Notary renewal application fee from $20 to $45. Applicants requiring same day service will pay an increased fee of $50. While the increases are substantial, the truth is the increase in the Notary bond, the initial Notary commission application fee, and the renewal application fee is long overdue, as the current fees have remained unchanged for decades.

One matter to be determined is whether Notaries with an existing $1,000 bond will be required to increase their bond to $10,000 when the law takes effect January 1, 2026.

The bigger story of Senate Bill 1028 is the new requirement for all Notary commission applicants — both new and renewing — to take and pass a background screening. While most states do not have a background screening requirement, the number of states choosing to implement one has been increasing in recent years as Notaries involved in frauds related to notarial acts and commission applicants with a criminal history have become more of an issue.

Read Senate Bill 1028.

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