Texas HB 4202: Relating to proof of identity of a person making an acknowledgment of a written instrument.

Bill Text

89(R) HB 4202 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

  

  

  
 H.B. No. 4202

  

  

  

  

 AN ACT

  

 relating to proof of identity of a person making an acknowledgment 

  

 of a written instrument.

  

        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

  

        SECTION 1.  Section 121.005(a), Civil Practice and Remedies 

  

 Code, is amended to read as follows:

  

        (a)  An officer may not take the acknowledgment of a written 

  

 instrument unless the officer knows or has satisfactory evidence 

  

 that the acknowledging person is the person who executed the 

  

 instrument and is described in it. An officer may accept, as 

  

 satisfactory evidence of the identity of an acknowledging person, 

  

 only:

  

              (1)  the oath of a credible witness who:

  

                    (A)  is personally known to the officer; or

  

                    (B)  provides the officer with a current 

  

 identification card or other document issued by the federal 

  

 government or any state government that contains the photograph and 

  

 signature of the witness;

  

              (2)  a current identification card or other document 

  

 issued by the federal government or any state government that 

  

 contains the photograph and signature of the acknowledging person; 

  

 or

  

              (3)  with respect to a deed or other instrument 

  

 relating to a residential real estate transaction, a current 

  

 passport issued by a foreign country.

  

        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 

  

 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 

  

 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 

  

 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 

  

 Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

  

  

  
 ______________________________
 ______________________________

  
    President of the Senate
 Speaker of the House     

  

  

   

        I certify that H.B. No. 4202 was passed by the House on May 

   

 10, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 129, Nays 0, 2 present, not 

   

 voting.

   

   

 ______________________________

   

 Chief Clerk of the House   

  

  

   

        I certify that H.B. No. 4202 was passed by the Senate on May 

   

 28, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

   

   

 ______________________________

   

 Secretary of the Senate    

   

 APPROVED:  _____________________

   

                    Date          

   

  

   

           _____________________

   

                  Governor