DeSantis Signs Bill Prohibiting Notaries from Advertisting Immigration Legal Services

Strategic Insights -

Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill prohibiting notaries public from advertising as immigration legal services, aiming to prevent people from being preyed upon by those providing unauthorized assistance. The move comes in the wake of ongoing raids in Florida's immigrant communities and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing the Trump administration to strip temporary protections from 350,000 Venezuelan migrants. The bill allows individuals to recover damages in civil lawsuits from notaries public providing unauthorized representation in immigration law matters.

Key Takeaways:

  • The bill (HB 915) prohibits notaries public from advertising their services using language that implies they possess professional legal skills in immigration law.
  • Notaries public are authorized to serve as witnesses and verify signatures on documents such as powers of attorney, deeds, and estates.
  • The Florida Immigrant Coalition sought help from lawmakers in addressing the problem of notaries public providing immigration legal services, which they described as an "epidemic" in Central and South Florida.
  • The bill allows individuals to recover damages in civil lawsuits from notaries public providing unauthorized representation in immigration law matters.
  • Notaries public will not be able to refer to themselves as "notario público," a term with implications that can file legal documents, give legal advice, and represent people in court in some Latin American countries.
  • The bill was one of 17 signed by DeSantis on Thursday, along with hundreds of millions allocated for local law enforcement to engage in immigration enforcement.

Statistics:

  • 350,000 Venezuelan migrants in Florida at risk of deportation after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
  • Hundreds of thousands of people affected by the raids in Florida immigrant communities.
  • 17 bills signed by DeSantis on Thursday, including HB 915.
  • $ hundreds of millions allocated for local law enforcement to engage in immigration enforcement.

Sources:

  • https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=81536&SessionId=105
  • https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/19/repub/u-s-supreme-court-lets-trump-end-protected-status-for-350000-venezuelan-migrants/
  • https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=h0915z.CIV.DOCX&DocumentType=Analysis&BillNumber=915&Session=2025