HB1262
Notaries; prohibition on certain advertising, investigation by Attorney General.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 10, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Chief Patron:
Jackie Glass (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Notaries; prohibition on certain advertising; investigation by Attorney General; civil penalties.
Provides that the Attorney General may issue a civil investigative demand whenever he has reasonable cause to believe that any notary public has, in violation of law, (i) offered or provided legal advice on immigration or other legal matters or represented any person in immigration proceedings or (ii) has assumed, ... (More) used, or advertised the title 'notario,' 'notario publico,' or 'licenciado,' or other term in a language other than English that indicates that such notary is authorized or licensed to practice law. The bill increases the civil penalties for a violation of clause (ii) from up to $500 to up to $2,500 for a first violation and from up to $1,000 to up to $5,000 for a second or subsequent violation. The bill also provides that the Attorney General may seek to enjoin any such violation and may recover restitution, reasonable expenses, and reasonable attorney fees. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/14/2026 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103340D
- 01/14/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
- 01/29/2026 - House: Referred from Labor and Commerce and referred to Public Safety (Voice Vote)
- 01/29/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety
- 02/03/2026 - House: Assigned HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #3
- 02/03/2026 - House: Placed on Public Safety Agenda
- 02/06/2026 - House: House subcommittee offered
- 02/06/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 0-N)
- 02/06/2026 - House: Placed on Public Safety Agenda
- 02/06/2026 - House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute (21-Y 1-N)
- 02/09/2026 - House: Committee substitute printed 26107391D-H1
- 02/10/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/11/2026 - House: Read second time
- 02/11/2026 - House: committee substitute agreed to
- 02/11/2026 - House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute
- 02/12/2026 - House: Read third time and passed House (94-Y 3-N 0-A)
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
- 02/23/2026 - Senate: Rereferred from Commerce and Labor to Courts of Justice (12-Y 0-N)
- 02/23/2026 - Senate: Rereferred to Courts of Justice
- 02/25/2026 - Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N)
- 02/27/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 02/27/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/27/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 03/02/2026 - Senate: Read third time
- 03/02/2026 - Senate: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/03/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1262)
- 03/09/2026 - House: Enrolled
- 03/09/2026 - House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1262ER)
- 03/09/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1262)
- 03/09/2026 - House: Signed by Speaker
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Signed by President
- 03/10/2026 - House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
- 03/10/2026 - Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
