House committee passes remote online notary legislation

The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the CUNA-supported Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic Notarization Act of 2021 (H.R. 3962) Wednesday. CUNA wrote in support of H.R. 3962 prior to the markup.

The bill would authorize the use of remote online notarization and create national standards and protections for its use.

“The remote online notary legislation will benefit consumers by standardizing requirements across the country and allowing easier access to vital services and transactions that require notary services,” said CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle. “CUNA and Leagues look forward to keeping this bill moving forward.”

CUNA also supports the approach of the American Data Privacy and Protection Act (H.R. 8152), a bipartisan bill passed by the committee.

The Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic (SECURE) Notarization Act of 2021 (H.R. 3962) would authorize the use of remote online notarization and create national standards and protections for its use.

CUNA also supports the approach of the American Data Privacy and Protection Act (H.R. 8152), which passed the committee Wednesday as well.

CUNA noted the bill’s agreement with its data security and privacy principles, which are:

• Keeping the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act standard intact.

• Addressing both data security and privacy through a comprehensive framework.
• Including of all entities under Federal Trade Commission jurisdiction in the standard.
• Establishing a national standard to avoid the current patchwork of state laws.
• Creating enforcement measures to address the harms that result from privacy and security violations.