Notaries; authorize commissions for persons residing within 15 miles of the border of Mississippi.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jeff Tate

Broadens notary eligibility to residents within 15 miles of the Mississippi border; would enable commissions, but the bill died in committee and was not enacted.

Died In Committee

#judiciary #divisiona

SB 2780 — Notaries; authorize commissions for persons residing within 15 miles of the border of Mississippi

Overview

SB 2780 proposes to authorize notary commissions for individuals who reside within 15 miles of the border with Mississippi. The bill aims to broaden the geographic eligibility for obtaining notary commissions.

Purpose and Intent

Expand access to notary services by allowing commissions for residents who live in proximity (within 15 miles) to the Mississippi border.

The bill’s text provided does not specify additional eligibility criteria, qualifications, or operational requirements beyond the residency-based authorization.

Key Provisions (as stated)

Eligibility: Notaries would be authorized to receive commissions if they reside within 15 miles of the border of Mississippi.

Commissioning authority: The bill would establish or align with a framework whereby eligible residents could be commissioned as notaries.

Note: The provided information does not include details on term length, renewal process, bond requirements, duties, fees, or other standard notary provisions. Those specifics would be found in the bill’s full text.

Affected Parties and Impacts

Primary beneficiaries: Residents living within 15 miles of the Mississippi border who seek or require notary commissions.

Secondary impacts: State administrative bodies responsible for notary commissions (e.g., the secretary of state or designated commissioning authority) would implement and oversee any changes to eligibility and issuance.

Procedural and Timeline Details

Introduced: March 14, 2025.

Legislative path:

2025-01-20: Referred to Judiciary, Division A.
2025-02-04: Died In Committee.
2025-03-14: Received by the Secretary of the Senate; Filed.
2025-04-03: Read first time; Referred to Natural Resources.

Status: Died In Committee (no enactment as of the most recent actions listed).

Related Legislation

Companion bill: HB 4384.

Potential Policy Considerations

Accessibility: Could improve access to notary services for residents near the Mississippi border depending on neighboring jurisdictions’ rules and cross-border needs.

Administrative costs: Would require updates to credentialing processes, forms, and possibly fee structures if residency-based eligibility affects existing notary programs.

Implementation details: Without full text, questions remain about term lengths, compliance, and whether any grandfathering provisions or transitional rules are included.

Bottom Line

SB 2780 would have expanded notary commission eligibility to residents within 15 miles of the Mississippi border. The measure was ultimately not enacted, as indicated by its Died In Committee status, though related actions and a companion bill exist.