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Kansas committee hears competing views on biometric system for notarizing real-estate documents
Summary
The House Judiciary Committee heard hours of testimony on HB2696, a bill that would require a two-tier authentication system and mandatory biometric anti‑fraud verification for notaries in real‑estate transactions. Proponents said the technology would block deed fraud; opponents raised privacy, cost and access concerns and urged broader stakeholder work before advancing the bill.
The House Committee on Judiciary on Monday heard extensive testimony on House Bill 26-96, a measure that would require a two‑tier authentication system and a biometric anti‑fraud system for notaries handling real‑estate documents by Dec. 31, 2027.
Jason Thompson of the Revisor’s Office told the committee the bill would require counties to implement protocols and require notaries who notarize real‑estate documents to submit biometric information and use a verified‑notary process. Supporters said the change is a practical way to block a rising form of title fraud.
Terry Lewis Todd, Leavenworth County register of deeds, described a pilot camera system his office uses that checks a notary’s photo and authentication code and rejects filings lacking a valid stamp, calling the technology…
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