Effective September 1, 2025, Texas notary laws are changing under Senate Bill 693, bringing the most significant updates in years. The new law introduces criminal penalties for notarizing without the signer present, including a Class A misdemeanor or a state jail felony for real estate documents. Notaries will also be required to retain their records for 10 years, ensuring protection in future disputes, and beginning January 1, 2026, all new and renewing notaries must complet