Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Agency Request for Public Comments #1

The Department of the Secretary of State (Agency) is issuing this advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) to request public comment on significant questions related to the implementation of the Remote Electronic Notarization Act (RENA). RENA became law on July 8, 2022. N.C. Session Law 2022-54.

RENA amends Chapter 10B, Notary Public Act, in the North Carolina General Statutes. Adoption of RENA was a direct outcome of the global pandemic, increasing economic activity being conducted remotely, and the need to conduct crucial business, legal, health-care, and other transactions safely and securely and efficiently in the rapidly changing remote environment.

RENA requires the Agency to adopt permanent rules on a large number of topics. The Agency’s goal is to establish a system that will continue to protect the public against fraud and ensure that transactions are not repudiated as a result of:

• Mental incapacity of the principal;
• Coercion or duress; or
• Fraud.

• In the subject line of any submittal cover page put: RENA ANPR #1,
• Include your name and contact information,
• If you are commenting on behalf of a business or organization, please indicate which one, and
• Include the question number to which your comments respond.

• Emailing comments to: ANPR@sosnc.gov
• By USPS to: P.O. Box 29622, Raleigh, NC 27626-0622.
• By courier service (ex. UPS, Fed Ex) to: 2 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27601”