Governor signs remote notary legislation NJSBA helped shape

The much-anticipated remote notary bill was signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy last week, opening up the ability to notarize documents using communication technology that would permit individuals to communicate simultaneously using sight and sound, a win for the state's legal community.

The New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) had been urging legislators to allow remote notary acknowledgements since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. A previous version of the bill was limited to only notaries public, and would not have been effective for 90 days.

After hearing of heroic efforts made by members to obtain valid notary acknowledgements in parking lots, on front porches and across backyards, where safe social distancing measures could be employed, the NJSBA successfully urged that a new bill be introduced that would take effect immediately. When first drafted, however, A-3903 (Downey)/S-2336 (Greenstein), was limited in its application. The NJSBA successfully urged amendments to expand the ability to notarize to all individuals able to administer oaths and authorizations statutorily—specifically attorneys—and to remove the prohibition against remotely notarizing wills and codicils. The bill took effect last week, and lasts only for the duration of the public health emergency and state of emergency declared by the governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020.

Governor enacts COVID-19 response laws following remote voting session

In a remote voting session—the first for the Senate and the second for the Assembly—the Legislature sent a group of bills to the governor addressing the budget, an extension of filing deadlines for tax filings and payments, immunity for healthcare professionals and facilities, and benefits and Medicaid coverage.