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Subcommittee advances bill to raise maximum notary fee from $5 to $10
Summary
The Real Estate Subcommittee voted to advance H.5140, which would raise the maximum allowable notary fee from $5 to $10; supporters cited inflation, time costs and comparators in other states, while a single abstention was recorded and the bill will proceed to the full committee.
A South Carolina Real Estate Subcommittee moved H.5140 to the full committee after hearing testimony that the statutory cap on notary fees should be raised from $5 to $10.
Shannon Wiley, general counsel and public information director for Secretary of State Mark Hammond, told the committee that the office commissions and trains notaries and supports the change. "This bill would increase the fees that notaries can charge from $5 to $10," Wiley said, noting the $5 level was set in 2014 and that charging a fee is optional for individual notaries. Wiley added that several other states, including Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama and Florida, allow a $10 fee and recommended cleaning up an older code section still on the books.
Small-business owners who provide notary services told the panel the current statutory limit strains operations. "As part of the UPS store franchise agreement, we are required to provide notary services for customers," said Hari Parrot Neni, who identified himself as the owner of three UPS stores. He cited rising employment and operational costs and said his stores carry a $1,000,000 bond to cover potential liabilities. He estimated combined monthly notarizations across his stores run "close to 300 to 400" in busier periods. Michael Gilmore, another UPS store owner from Rock Hill, said notarizations can be time-consuming and require staff training and reference to manuals.
Committee members asked whether the stores provide electronic notarizations and about bond sizes and volumes; witnesses said they do not offer electronic notaries at these locations and that bonds and time costs justify a modest fee increase.
Representative Kirby, who moved to advance the bill, described the measure as a "no-brainer." The motion to send H.5140 to the full committee was seconded by Mr. Guffey and approved by the subcommittee; the chair recorded one member as abstaining but the transcript did not clearly identify the abstaining member. The subcommittee did not record any opposing votes and the bill will next be considered by the full committee.
The Secretary of State's office suggested, during testimony, that the bill could also repeal an obsolete code section (8-21-140) for cleanup; that administrative detail would be handled as the bill moves through committee.
