House Approves Remote Notary Bill
The House on July 27 approved the Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic (SECURE) Notarization Act. The legislation would help small businesses and consumers, including those engaged in the home building sector, as notarizations are used extensively in real estate transactions.
The SECURE Act would establish nationwide standards and technical requirements for remote online notarization and allow a notary public commissioned under state law to remotely notarize electronic records and perform notarizations for remotely located individuals.
The bill would also require United States courts and states to recognize remote notarizations, including remote notarizations from notary publics commissioned in other states or U.S. territories, that occur in or affect interstate commerce.
Current law requires a signer to physically be in the presence of a notary. This requirement is often impractical, costly or even completely unworkable due to social distancing constraints resulting from COVID-19, as well as other barriers including military service or work travel that prevents face-to-face interactions.
Prior to the House vote, NAHB signed a joint letter with several other business organizations in support of the SECURE Act.
Latest from NAHBNow
Economics
Aug 13, 2026
Construction Employment Rises Amid a Cooling Labor Market
The overall labor market continued to lose momentum in July, with nonfarm payrolls falling by 23,000 and previous job gains revised sharply lower.
Codes and Standards
Aug 13, 2026
Sept. 1 Deadline Looms for Code Changes on Outdoor Outlets, GFCIs
On Sept. 1, 2026, a temporary exception in the National Electrical Code (NEC) is scheduled to expire, which requires ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection for outdoor HVAC equipment.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Aug 13, 2026
Building Material Prices Show Growth In July
Residential building material prices, excluding energy, rose 0.4% in July and were up 5.0% from a year ago. Energy prices fell again in July but remained significantly higher than a year ago. Meanwhile, prices for services were down 0.3% over the month but were 6.2% higher than a year ago.
Economics
Aug 13, 2026
Homeownership Rate Edges Down to 65%
The latest homeownership rate declined to 65% in the second quarter of 2026, according to the Census’s Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS). The homeownership rate was unchanged from a year ago, and not statistically different than the rate in the first quarter of the year (65.3%).
Economics
Aug 12, 2026
Inflation Eased Slightly in July
Led by declines in gasoline and diesel prices, inflation eased for the second consecutive month after reaching a three-year high in May. As energy prices moderated, shelter resumed its role as the largest driver of headline inflation, accounting for one-third of the annual increase and over two-thirds of the monthly increase.