LegislationJun 20, 2006 - Illinois
IL Senate Bill 2718 - Illinois NSAs are now considered lawful escrow agents who can perform closings when hired as independent contractors by a title insurance company or title insurance agent. There are thus now no restrictions on the operation of NSAs in Illinois.
LegislationJun 15, 2006 - Louisiana
LA House Bill 1219 - Enacts temporary provisions related to Notaries relocated as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and application and examination procedures.
LegislationJun 03, 2006 - Wisconsin
WI Senate Bill 616 - Wisconsin enacts the Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act (URPERA).
LegislationMay 26, 2006 - Michigan
MI Senate Bill 908 - Repeals "plain English notary forms" of MCL 55.289, requires a Notary notarizing outside of the county of commissioning to add a statement to the notarial certificate and clarifies that a Notary must sign a notarial certificate witha the name as it appears on the commission application.
GuidanceMay 23, 2006 - Utah
UT Department of Insurance Interpretation (Clarification) - Notaries who handle loan signings may courier the documents to and from the signing, but they may not handle checks for settlement funds, as handling checks would require a title escrow producer license.
LegislationMay 04, 2006 - Maine
ME House Paper 1398 - Maine becomes the latest state to regulate the business of nonattorney immigration assistance services.
LegislationMay 01, 2006 - Utah
UT Senate Bill 20 - Senate Bill 20 repeals the Utah Digital Signature Act, but will still allow Notaries to perform electronic notarizations under existing law. The bill makes other changes as well.
LegislationApr 15, 2006 - Maine
ME House Paper 1429 - House Paper 1429 permits certain employee-Notaries of a jail to perform ministerial and Notary functions in connection with the preparation of personal recognizance or unsecured appearance bonds.
GuidanceMar 28, 2006 - Utah
UT Department of Insurance Interpretation - A March 28, 2006, letter from the Market Conduct Division Director of the Utah Department of Insurance to Fran Fish, Utah’s Notary Administrator, explains that the state’s previous restrictive policies have been reviewed and revised in a manner favorable to Notary Signing Agents.
Rule/Regulation
Jan 30, 2006 - Pennsylvania
PA Notice Re: Electronic Notarization (35 Pa.B. 7068) - The Pennsylvania Department of State has decided to launch a renewable and expandable one-year initiative allowing Notaries to apply to the Department for authorization to perform electronic notarizations and upon approval, register their electronic signatures with the county recorder of deeds of the counties of Chester, Lancaster, Philadelphia, or Westmoreland.