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SB 1571

Relating to disclosure under the public information law of certain contact information of a notary public that is maintained by the secretary of state.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Brian Birdwell

SB 1571 restricts public disclosure of certain contact information for notaries public maintained by Texas's Secretary of State under open records laws.

Referred to Business & Commerce
#notaries(i0538) #occupationalregulation--healthoccupations(i0540) #occupationalregulation--othertrades&professions(i0541) #openrecords(i0548) #secretaryofstate(v0042)
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Bill Summary · SB 1571

Legislative bill overview

SB 1571 would limit public disclosure of certain contact information for notaries public under Texas's public information law. The bill restricts what notary contact details the Secretary of State must release when requested, protecting specific personal information currently available in public records.

Why is this important

Notaries public are official state representatives who handle sensitive legal documents and identity verification. Unrestricted disclosure of their contact information could expose them to harassment, fraud targeting, or misuse by bad actors seeking to impersonate notaries or exploit their access to verification processes. This affects both notary security and public confidence in the notarization system.

Potential points of contention

  • Privacy vs. transparency trade-off: Restricting public information conflicts with open-records advocates who argue government employee contact details should remain accessible for legitimate purposes like complaint filing or service verification
  • Scope ambiguity: The bill doesn't specify which contact information is restricted, potentially creating implementation uncertainty about addresses, phone numbers, email, or other details
  • Notary accountability: Limited public access to notary information could complicate efforts by consumers to report misconduct or verify a notary's legitimacy before engaging their services

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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