Relating to education requirements for notaries public; providing a civil penalty.

HB 4203 requires Texas notaries public to complete 6 hours of education and pass an exam to become appointed, and 3 hours of continuing education to renew their commission. The Secretary of State will approve third-party courses meeting specific standards and publish a list of approved providers online. Course providers who violate these rules face civil fines up to $1,000 per violation. The law directly affects all current and future Texas notaries, as well as third-party education providers offering notary courses.