Notaries public; penalty; effective date.

HB 1578 amends Oklahoma law to require notaries public to verify a person's identity before performing any notarial act, such as witnessing signatures or certifying documents. It specifies that notaries must confirm identity through personal knowledge, credible witnesses, or valid ID documents. Failure to make this verification results in a misdemeanor charge punishable by fines up to $5,000 or 30 days in jail. The law takes effect on November 1, 2025, directly affecting all notaries performing official acts in Oklahoma.