House Approves Remote Notary Bill
The House on Feb. 27 approved the Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic (SECURE) Notarization Act. The legislation would help small businesses and consumers, including those engaged in the home building sector, as notarizations are used extensively in real estate transactions.
The SECURE Act would establish nationwide standards and technical requirements for remote online notarization and allow a notary public commissioned under state law to remotely notarize electronic records and perform notarizations for remotely located individuals.
The bill would also require U.S. courts and states to recognize remote notarizations, including remote notarizations from notary publics commissioned in other states or U.S. territories, that occur in or affect interstate commerce.
Current law requires a signer to physically be in the presence of a notary. This requirement is often impractical, costly or even completely unworkable because of ongoing social distancing constraints in some communities resulting from COVID-19, as well as other barriers including military service or work travel that prevents face-to-face interactions.
The SECURE Act would establish nationwide standards and technical requirements for remote online notarization and allow a notary public commissioned under state law to remotely notarize electronic records and perform notarizations for remotely located individuals.
The bill would also require U.S. courts and states to recognize remote notarizations, including remote notarizations from notary publics commissioned in other states or U.S. territories, that occur in or affect interstate commerce.
Current law requires a signer to physically be in the presence of a notary. This requirement is often impractical, costly or even completely unworkable because of ongoing social distancing constraints in some communities resulting from COVID-19, as well as other barriers including military service or work travel that prevents face-to-face interactions.
Latest from NAHBNow
Sponsored Content
Jan 30, 2026
What 700+ Real Estate Pros Say About Marketing in 2026 and Where Builders Are Losing GroundHeading into 2026, businesses across real estate are planning for growth — but with caution. Results from a recent survey point to a clear shift: while marketing investment is holding strong, the biggest opportunity – and risk – now sits in responsiveness and follow-up.
Land Development
Jan 30, 2026
How Can Density and Varying Housing Types Influence Local Tax Bases?Developed in partnership with Urban3, NAHB’s new Value of Land Use Efficiency video and infographic resource takes a data-driven look at how a wide range of residential development types contribute to local tax bases relative to the public services they require.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Jan 30, 2026
Bathroom Remodeling Is Most Common Project in 2025Every quarter, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) conducts a survey of professional remodelers. The first part of the survey collects the information required to produce the NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI).
Economics
Jan 29, 2026
Saving Rate Falls to 3.5% in NovemberPersonal income rose 0.3% in November 2025, following a 0.1% increase in October, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Gains were largely driven by higher wages and dividend income. However, income growth has cooled noticeably from peaking at a monthly increase of 1.1% in July 2022 to 0.3% now.
Economics
Jan 28, 2026
Holding Pattern for the FedThe Fed paused its easing cycle at the conclusion of the January meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee, the central bank’s monetary policy body. The Fed held the short-term federal funds rate at a top rate of 3.75%, the level set in December. This marked the first policy pause since the Fed resumed easing in September of last year.