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SB1051 • 2026

Notary Public

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 16, Part 3, relative to online notaries public.

Technology
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Stevens, Lamberth
Last action
2025-04-08
Official status
Effective date(s) 01/01/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about the number of current applicants or future impact on interest, leaving these points as speculative.

Online Notary Public Requirements

This bill changes Tennessee laws to require online notaries to complete a course and pass an exam before they can be commissioned.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds that people must take a course and pass a test to become an online notary public in Tennessee.
  • Requires applicants for online notary commissions to certify that they have reviewed, understand, and will follow the rules set by the secretary of state.
  • Specifies that the course must cover notarial laws, technology procedures for online notarizations, and ethical requirements.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who want to become an online notary public in Tennessee.

Terms To Know

Notary Public
A person authorized by law to witness the signing of documents and perform other official acts, such as administering oaths.
Online Notarization
The process of notarizing a document or transaction using electronic means instead of in-person methods.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill does not specify what the exact content of the course will be, only that it must cover certain topics.
  • It is unclear how many people are currently interested in becoming online notaries and if this new requirement will affect their numbers.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 01/01/2026

  2. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 124

  3. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 124

  4. 2025-04-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  6. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  7. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  8. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  9. 2025-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 96, Nays 0, PNV 0

  10. 2025-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  11. 2025-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  12. 2025-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  13. 2025-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/24/2025

  14. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/20/2025

  15. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  16. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

  17. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/19/2025

  18. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/19/2025

  19. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  20. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 30, Nays 0

  21. 2025-03-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/10/2025

  22. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/12/2025

  23. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee

  24. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  25. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/4/2025

  26. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 3/5/2025

  27. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  28. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  29. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee

  30. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  31. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  32. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  33. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  34. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 1340
By Lamberth

SENATE BILL 1051
By Stevens

SB1051
003199
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8,
Chapter 16, Part 3, relative to online notaries
public.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-16-306(b), is amended by deleting
the language "and" in subdivision (1), by redesignating subdivision (2) as subdivision (3), and by
adding the following as a new subdivision (2):
(2) Completing a course of instruction concerning online notarization under
subsection (e) and passing an examination administered by the course provider; and
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-16-306(c)(7), is amended by
deleting the subdivision and substituting instead the following:
(7) A certification that the applicant has reviewed, understands, and will comply
with the requirements of this part and the rules promulgated by the secretary of state
under this part.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-16-306, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(e)
(1) The course of instruction on online notarization, as required under
subdivision (b)(2), must cover, at a minimum:
(A) Notarial laws;
(B) Technology procedures of online notarizations; and
(C) Ethical requirements for online notaries.

- 2 - 003199

(2) The course of instruction on online notarization must be approved by
the secretary of state or the secretary of state's authorized representative or
designee.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect January 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.