House Bill 22
House Bill 22 (HB22) is being considered this session by Alabama's Legislature this year. It will have its First Reading on March 5, 2019. The Bill was authored/introduced by Representatives Chris Blackshear (District 80), Corey Harbison (District 12) and Scott Stadthagen (District 9).
Below is a synopsis of the bill:
"Under existing law, a notary public in the State of Alabama must be a resident of the state. This bill would allow a person who is a resident of a state bordering on the State of Alabama who carries on a business, profession, or who is regularly employed in the State of Alabama to be commissioned as a notary public by the judge of probate of the county in which the person carries on his or her profession, business, or employment."
Notaries for Alabama spoke with Representative Blackshear last week to gain a better understanding why the bill was introduced. Blackshear explained that there are Alabama businesses/employers in rural communities who need to employ staff who will perform notarial duties. Due to current economic conditions (low unemployment) businesses in rural areas have a difficult time finding staff to fill these job vacancies. As a result some businesses have resorted to hiring residents from bordering states (Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi and Florida), who are willing to commute back and forth each day. Since these individuals are not residents of Alabama they are unable to be commissioned as an Alabama notary public. Rep. Blackshear mentioned one business by name, State Farm Insurance Agencies.
Notaries for Alabama explained to Rep. Blackshear that there are a large number of professional notaries in Alabama who are small business owners, most of whom are home-based. They work under the title of Notary Signing Agent, and Mobile Notary. These are men and women who serve the Alabama community by driving to residences, businesses, and hospitals to perform a variety of notarial services. We explained that Alabama constituents who are professional notaries could be adversely impacted by HB22 by allowing non-residents to become Alabama notaries. Our office also provided Representative Blackshear with a copy of the Official 2017 Notary Census, published by the National Notary Association.
Notaries for Alabama will continue to follow this bill through the legislative process and, if warranted, reach back out to Rep. Blackshear with questions and concerns. If you would like to read HB22 in its entirety, you can download a copy from our website. Go to the Documents section.
For specific information about the bill, feel free to contact the Representatives Blackshear, Habison and Stadthagen.
Notaries for Alabama, the state's only support group for notaries, provides training, mentoring, supplies and networking opportunities. We've been serving Alabama's notaries since 2013. You can learn more our group by visiting our website. If you have questions for Notaries for Alabama, don't hesitate to let us know.
Michelle L. Riley, Founder
Notaries for Alabama
(205) 626-9399 | Email: Notaries4Alabama@Gmail.com
www.NotariesforAlabama.com
