HB55 Alabama 2011 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Paul DeMarco
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2011
Title: Notaries public, distinction between county and at large removed, Secs. 36-20-70 to 36-20-75, inclusive, added; Secs. 36-20-1 to 36-20-11, inclusive, 36-20-30 to 36-20-32, inclusive, repealed
Summary: HB55 would end the county vs. at-large distinction for notaries in Alabama and create statewide notaries appointed by county probate judges, repealing the existing county/state framework.
What This Bill Does
It creates a new statewide notary system with four-year terms and jurisdiction across the state, appointed by the judges of probate in each county. It repeals the current county employment and state-at-large notary laws and preserves existing notaries only until their current commissions expire. It sets bonding, sealing, and fee rules, enumerates the powers of notaries (like administering oaths and certifying documents), and imposes a misdemeanor for acting without a valid commission or after expiration.

Who It Affects
Notaries public: will be appointed as statewide notaries, must post a 25,000-dollar bond, obtain a seal, and follow new rules and fees; current notaries remain in effect until their commissions expire.
County probate judges and county governments: responsible for appointing statewide notaries in their counties, collecting a 10-dollar commission fee for each new notary, and reporting commission details to the Secretary of State.

Key Provisions
Adds Article 4 starting at §36-20-70 to create statewide notaries (state-at-large) appointed by the judges of probate in each county; notaries have statewide jurisdiction for four years and a $10 commission fee is collected; commissions are reported to the Secretary of State.
§36-20-71 requires a 25,000-dollar bond for each notary, approved by the county judge of probate, filed in the county, and kept for the duration of the term; existing notaries continue under their current bonds.
§36-20-72 requires each notary to have a seal showing name, office, and state; §36-20-73 lists powers notaries may exercise (oaths, acknowledgments, banking documents, and other powers per commercial law); §36-20-74 provides a 1-dollar fee for carrying out powers.
§36-20-75 establishes a Class C misdemeanor for acting as a notary after expiration or without a valid commission.
Repeals the existing Articles 1 and 2 (county employment and state-at-large employment for notaries) and related sections, consolidating into the new framework.
Section 3 states the bill is exempt from certain local-funding requirements under Amendment 621 because it defines a new crime or amends a crime definition.
Section 4 provides an effective date of January 1, 2012.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Notaries Public