State Sen. Liandro “Li” Arellano said that efforts are underway to eliminate double fees for electronic notaries in Illinois, as part of a broader initiative to update the state’s notary system for small and mid-sized businesses operating online.
The current fee structure requires an additional charge for electronic notary certification, which has limited access to these services, especially in rural areas such as Illinois’ 37th District. The legislation aims to encourage more notaries to offer electronic capabilities without incurring extra costs, according to the bill’s text.
“My bill to eliminate the double fee for electronic notaries passed the Senate, and SB1573 is now being carried by State Rep. Ryan Spain in the House. Notaries Public get charged a second fee if they want to offer electronic notary service to their region. This has contributed to a shortage that affects small and mid-size businesses trying to do business in an online world,” Sen. Arellano wrote in a Facebook post. “This bill will give the Secretary of State’s office two years to permanently solve the problem for the business climate while removing a disincentive for Notaries to offer electronic notary service. It is a very small fee reduction, but we must do what we can to lower unnecessary taxes and fees whenever the opportunity arises.”
The bill advanced with unanimous support and has been sent to the House Judiciary Civil Committee for further consideration, where it is sponsored by State Rep. Ryan Spain. The senator sponsored the measure along with Sen. Andrew S. Chesney.
Nationally, adoption of electronic and remote online notarization has grown substantially as businesses seek more efficient ways to handle transactions across state lines. Reports indicate significant increases in use of such services in recent years, helping reduce delays and costs associated with traditional in-person notarizations; many states have implemented similar fee waivers or streamlined processes, according to National Notary Association data.
Arellano is a U.S. Army veteran and former mayor of Dixon, according to his official biography. He was elected as a Republican to the Illinois Senate in 2025, representing the 37th District.
