89R4149 JTZ-D
By: West S.B. No. 693
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to creating a criminal offense for the use of a notary seal
or counterfeit seal on a fraudulent document or instrument.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 406, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 406.027 to read as follows:
Sec. 406.027. USE OF NOTARY SEAL OR COUNTERFEIT SEAL ON
FRAUDULENT DOCUMENT OR INSTRUMENT; CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) For
purposes of this section, "counterfeit seal" means a mark identical
to or substantially indistinguishable from a notary seal that the
secretary of state did not provide to or otherwise authorize use by
the individual who affixed the mark, including a photocopy, scanned
image, or other electronic copy of a notary seal.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly:
(1) affixes a notary seal or counterfeit seal to a
document or instrument presumed to be fraudulent under Section
51.901(c)(2); and
(2) files, records, or attempts to file or record the
document or instrument with a clerk of the supreme court, clerk of
the court of criminal appeals, clerk of a court of appeals, district
clerk, county clerk, district and county clerk, or municipal clerk.
(c) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
(d) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this
section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor
may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.