VirginiaNotaries; prohibition on certain advertising, investigation by Attorney General.
What it does
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, 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.
More detail
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.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 13Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter 763 (effective 7/1/2026)Became Law
- Mar 10Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 10Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026Minor
- Mar 9Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 9Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 9Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1262)
- Mar 9Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1262ER)Major
- Mar 9EnrolledMinor
- Mar 3Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1262)
- Mar 2Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 2Read third timeMinor
- Feb 27Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 27Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 27Rules suspended
- Feb 25Reported from Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Courts of Justice. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 23Rereferred from Commerce and Labor to Courts of Justice (12-Y 0-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Rereferred from Commerce and Labor. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 13Referred to Committee on Commerce and LaborMinor
- Feb 13Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 12Read third time and passed House (94-Y 3-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11Engrossed by House - committee substituteMajor
- Feb 11committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Feb 11Read second timeMinor
- Feb 10Read first timeMinor
- Feb 9Committee substitute printed 26107391D-H1Major
- Feb 6Reported from Public Safety with substitute (21-Y 1-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Public Safety with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 6Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 0-N)Major
- Feb 6House subcommittee offered
- Feb 3Assigned HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #3Minor
- Jan 29Referred from Labor and Commerce and referred to Public Safety (Voice Vote)Minor
- Jan 14Referred to Committee on Labor and CommerceMinor
- Jan 14Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103340DIntroduced