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.