Secretary of State highlights online services, nonprofit enforcement and seeks modest revenue retention increases

The Secretary of State’s office briefed a legislative subcommittee on digital-service improvements, nonprofit oversight and several budget requests to offset rising operational costs.

The presenter (Secretary of State, unnamed in the transcript) said the office launched an online trademark filing system on Nov. 17, 2025, and changed the notary application so applicants can pay and receive notice online. The office reported processing roughly 20,000 notary applications last year and estimated about 163,000 notaries in the state. The presenter said recent online tutorials and the GiveSmart app have reduced phone volume and helped nonprofits comply with registration requirements.

On enforcement, the office said it collected about $1.2 million in fines from nonprofit organizations for registration or reporting violations and scheduled roughly 30 administrative-law-court petitions for injunctive relief last year. The office said it retained $350,000 of fine revenue for investigation-offset purposes after a recent authorized increase; by statute the office may retain $200,000 for that purpose. The presenter told legislators the office recorded roughly 607,000 filings across its programs and handled more than 100,000 phone calls and 8,000 walk-ins last year.

Budget requests included an amendment to proviso 96.1 to increase the share of UCC revenue the office may retain (the office requested an additional $70,000), an other-funds authorization increase of $150,000 for IT projects, and $70,950 to cover cost-of-living increases and benefits for 16 positions supported by other funds (the agency has 36 positions total). The presenter cited rising postage costs (about $185,000 for certified-mail notices last year), IT and cybersecurity needs, and in-house online systems as drivers for the requests.

Committee members asked about the office’s nonprofit oversight and how the public reports concerns. The presenter said the public can submit confidential complaints through a hotline, the agency’s mobile app or its website; the office reviews IRS Form 990s and social-media activity and has three investigators who pursue potential violations. The presenter described the enforcement sequence: notice of violation with 15 days to comply, daily accruals of $10 until a $2,000 cap, and administrative-law-court petitions when compliance does not follow.

Legislators did not record formal votes in the transcript. The subcommittee adjourned at the end of the Secretary of State presentation.