87R1812 JES-D     By: Paxton S.B. No. 344       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the use of electronic signatures that employ blockchain   or distributed ledger technology in certain business or   governmental transactions.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 322.002(8), Business & Commerce Code, is   amended to read as follows:                (8)  "Electronic signature" means an electronic sound,   symbol, or process, including one that employs blockchain or   distributed ledger technology, attached to or logically associated   with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to   sign the record.          SECTION 2.  Section 322.017, Business & Commerce Code, is   amended by amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection   (d) to read as follows:          (a)  Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (d) or   Section 322.012(f), each state agency shall determine whether, and   the extent to which, the agency will send and accept electronic   records and electronic signatures to and from other persons and   otherwise create, generate, communicate, store, process, use, and   rely upon electronic records and electronic signatures.          (c)  Except as otherwise provided in Subsection (d) or   Section 322.012(f), this chapter does not require a governmental   agency of this state to use or permit the use of electronic records   or electronic signatures.          (d)  A governmental agency of this state must accept valid   electronic signatures. An electronic signature that employs   blockchain or distributed ledger technology is a valid electronic   signature for:                (1)  the issuance of an apostille by the secretary of   state, if the apostille may be signed using an electronic   signature; or                 (2)  a contract entered into by a governmental agency   of this state.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.