SB 693: West Notary Seal Bill Adds One More Charge For Prosecutors

Caption

relating to creating a criminal offense for the use of a notary seal or counterfeit seal on a fraudulent document or instrument.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Class A misdemeanor. Prosecutors pick “this section, the other law, or both.”

This bill creates a new Class A misdemeanor offense for knowingly putting a notary seal, or a fake copy of one, on a document the law already presumes fraudulent and then filing or trying to file it with a court or local clerk. It touches anyone who files such documents with Texas court clerks, county clerks, district clerks, or municipal clerks, and it defines a fake seal to include photocopies and scanned or electronic copies a person was not authorized to use. Starting September 1, 2025, prosecutors gain one more charge they can bring under this section, other laws, or both.

Labels

Labels: NO AUTOGRAPH. Became law without the governor's signature on May 30, 2025.CREATES AN OFFENSE. The caption of the graded version (introduced) reads: “relating to creating a criminal offense for the use of a notary seal or counterfeit seal on a fraudulent document or instrument.”

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB693 · 2025-01-03

SOLD BY

Sen. Royce WestDSenate 23

ITEM

relating to creating a criminal offense for the use of a notary seal or counterfeit seal on a fraudulent document or instrument.

WHAT IT DOES

Class A misdemeanor. Prosecutors pick “this section, the other law, or both.”

This bill creates a new Class A misdemeanor offense for knowingly putting a notary seal, or a fake copy of one, on a document the law already presumes fraudulent and then filing or trying to file it with a court or local clerk. It touches anyone who files such documents with Texas court clerks, county clerks, district clerks, or municipal clerks, and it defines a fake seal to include photocopies and scanned or electronic copies a person was not authorized to use. Starting September 1, 2025, prosecutors gain one more charge they can bring under this section, other laws, or both.

CHARGES

[x] ALREADY A CRIMEanalysis confidence 45%

THE TEXT

“If conduct that constitutes an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill itself expects the same conduct to be an offense under other laws. Based on general knowledge, not this text, Texas forgery and fraudulent-filing laws likely already cover filing a fraudulent document with a faked notary seal, so the overlap is partial and uncertain.

TOTAL

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($1,032,113)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version H · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version H · May 10, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB693, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($1,600,346) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($1,032,113)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

Jan 3, 2025Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Jan 3, 2025Filed
Feb 3, 2025Read first time
Feb 3, 2025Referred to Criminal Justice
Mar 25, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Mar 25, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 25, 2025Testimony taken in committee
Mar 25, 2025Vote taken in committee
Mar 31, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
Mar 31, 2025Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
Mar 31, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
Apr 2, 2025Placed on intent calendar
Apr 9, 2025Rules suspended-Regular order of business
Apr 9, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
Apr 9, 2025Read 2nd time
Apr 9, 2025Amendment(s) offered FA1 West
Apr 9, 2025Amended
Apr 9, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
Apr 9, 2025Passed to engrossment as amended
Apr 9, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
Apr 9, 2025Three day rule suspended
Apr 9, 2025Record vote
Apr 9, 2025Read 3rd time
Apr 9, 2025Passed
Apr 9, 2025Record vote
Apr 9, 2025Reported engrossed
Apr 10, 2025Received from the Senate
Apr 17, 2025Read first time
Apr 17, 2025Referred to Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
May 1, 2025Considered in formal meeting
May 1, 2025Committee substitute considered in committee
May 1, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
May 8, 2025Considered in formal meeting
May 8, 2025Vote reconsidered in committee
May 8, 2025Committee substitute considered in committee
May 8, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
May 12, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 12, 2025Committee report distributed
May 12, 2025Laid out in lieu of companion CSHB 3704
May 12, 2025Read 2nd time
May 12, 2025Passed to 3rd reading
May 12, 2025Record vote RV#2169
May 12, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 12, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 13, 2025Read 3rd time
May 13, 2025Passed
May 13, 2025Record vote RV#2323
May 13, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 14, 2025House passage as amended reported
May 20, 2025House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
May 20, 2025Read
May 20, 2025Senate concurs in House amendment(s)
May 20, 2025Record vote
May 20, 2025Reported enrolled
May 21, 2025Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported
May 21, 2025Signed in the Senate
May 21, 2025Signed in the House
May 21, 2025Sent to the Governor
May 30, 2025Filed without the Governor's signature
May 30, 2025Effective on 9/1/25

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 105 yea · 29 nay

Senate · 29 yea · 1 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 13, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 9, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Royce West

Donors

Skyview Development LLC$36K Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20KErle Allen Nye Jr.$15,000

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Skyview Development LLC$36,332.00

Skyview Development LLC

$36,332.00

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $36,332.00
Total: $36,332.00

Other filed descriptions $32,032.00fundraiser $4,300.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100987569, 101009506, 101058878, 101063137.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$20,000.00

Cash: $20,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $20,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 11, 2024 to Oct 10, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100987569, 101063137.

Erle Allen Nye Jr.$15,000.00

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Skyview Development LLC

$36,332.00

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $36,332.00
Total: $36,332.00

Other filed descriptions $32,032.00fundraiser $4,300.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100987569, 101009506, 101058878, 101063137.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$20,000.00

Cash: $20,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $20,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 11, 2024 to Oct 10, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100987569, 101063137.

Votes7

Senate May 20, 2025

Yea: 31
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator West moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 693. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 13, 2025

Yea: 105
Nay: 29
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 9
Excused: 5

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2323

SB 693 was passed by (Record 2323): 105 Yeas, 29 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 105 (published)
Nay: 29 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 9 (derived from named list)
Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 12, 2025

Yea: 105
Nay: 35
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 5
Excused: 3

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2169

CSSB 693 was read second time and was passed to third reading by (Record 2169): 105 Yeas, 35 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 105 (published)
Nay: 35 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 5 (derived from named list)
Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 9, 2025

Yea: 29
Nay: 1
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: 1

Names

HancockNay
KingExcused

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 29 (published)
Nay: 1 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 9, 2025

Yea: 29
Nay: 1
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: 1

Names

HancockNay
KingExcused

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Sources

Senator West moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 693 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 29 (published)
Nay: 1 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 9, 2025

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: 1

Names

HancockNay
KingExcused

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

CSSB 693 as amended was passed to engrossment by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 9, 2025

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: 1

Names

KingExcused

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

The amendment to CSSB 693 was read and was adopted by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses14

For: 14
Against: 0
On: 0

Names

For

AARP Texas1 registration
American Association of Notaries1 registration
Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT)1 registration
Conference of Urban Counties1 registration
Dallas County1 registration
Dallas County District Attorney’s Office1 registration
Dallas Police Assoc1 registration
Harris County Commissioners Court1 registration
Houston Police Department1 registration
Proof1 registration
Self1 registration
Self; Houston Police Officers’ Union1 registration
Texas Association of Builders1 registration
Texas Land Title Association1 registration

Sources

14 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($1,032,113)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version H · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version H · May 10, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB693, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($1,600,346) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($1,032,113)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Jan 3, 2025

05/30/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed · House Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Companion

HB 3704 by Anchía (similar)

HB 4654 by Orr (identical)

Subjects

Crimes--Miscellaneous

Notaries

Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions

CONTINUING EDUCATION

RECORDS MANAGEMENT

SECRETARY OF STATE

Text

The text as introduced · 260 words

89R4149 JTZ-D

By: West
S.B. No. 693

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to creating a criminal offense for the use of a notary seal

or counterfeit seal on a fraudulent document or instrument.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 406, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 406.027 to read as follows:

Sec. 406.027. USE OF NOTARY SEAL OR COUNTERFEIT SEAL ON

FRAUDULENT DOCUMENT OR INSTRUMENT; CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) For

purposes of this section, "counterfeit seal" means a mark identical

to or substantially indistinguishable from a notary seal that the

secretary of state did not provide to or otherwise authorize use by

the individual who affixed the mark, including a photocopy, scanned

image, or other electronic copy of a notary seal.

(b) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly:

(1) affixes a notary seal or counterfeit seal to a

document or instrument presumed to be fraudulent under Section

51.901(c)(2); and

(2) files, records, or attempts to file or record the

document or instrument with a clerk of the supreme court, clerk of

the court of criminal appeals, clerk of a court of appeals, district

clerk, county clerk, district and county clerk, or municipal clerk.

(c) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

(d) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this

section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor

may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Verdict: Smells

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Skyview Development LLC

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Skyview Development LLC

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Senate May 20, 2025

House May 13, 2025

House May 12, 2025

Senate Apr 9, 2025

Senate Apr 9, 2025

Senate Apr 9, 2025

Senate Apr 9, 2025

For

Companion