Regulatory Watch: Surety Bond & Licensing Changes
A running record of bond-amount and licensing-requirement changes we're tracking across states and industries — updated as real changes are confirmed, not on a fixed schedule.
Last updated: August 28, 2026
New Requirements & Recent Changes
Louisiana Now Requires a Surety Bond for Money Transmitters
Louisiana's new Money Transmission Act (House Bill 1230 / Act No. 888) replaces the state's old Sale of Checks and Money Transmission Act with a full licensing framework — including a surety bond of the greater of $1,000,000 or 100% of a licensee's average daily transmission liability, up to a $500,000 cap. This is a brand-new bonding obligation for an industry that didn't carry one under the prior law, not a rate change on an existing bond type.
Source: Louisiana Legislature — Act No. 888 (HB 1230), 2026 Regular Session
Louisiana Notary Bond Requirement Jumps From $10,000 to $50,000
House Bill 259, signed into law June 2025, raises the required bond (or personal surety) for every non-attorney notary in Louisiana from $10,000 to $50,000 — a 5x increase — and ends the grandfather provision that let existing bonds run out their term. Every non-exempt notary needs the new amount in place by the effective date, not just new applicants.
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State — Notary filing requirements
Georgia's Used Car Dealer Bond Increase — Renewal Deadline Approaching
Georgia's SB 293 raised the required used motor vehicle dealer bond from $35,000 to $50,000, effective July 1, 2026. Dealer licenses and bonds expire September 30, 2026, and the Secretary of State's office will reject a $35,000 bond filed at renewal — the new $50,000 bond needs to be in place by October 1, 2026.
Primary source: Georgia Secretary of State
✓ We covered this when it passed — read Ashton's full article
Ohio Raises Used Car Dealer Bond to $75,000
Ohio's used motor vehicle dealer bond requirement tripled from $25,000 to $75,000 — one of the largest single-state dealer bond increases in recent memory. We tracked it as soon as it was confirmed.
New York's New Energy Broker Surety Bond Requirement
New York created a new surety bond requirement for energy brokers — the kind of brand-new bonding obligation that catches an entire industry off guard. We identified it, covered it, and reached out directly to affected contacts.
Tennessee Adds a Contractor Bond Option in Place of CPA Financials
Tennessee's Board for Licensing Contractors now lets applicants and licensees submit a Board-approved surety bond — at least 50% of the requested monetary limit — as an alternative to a CPA-reviewed or CPA-audited financial statement. A $500,000 monetary limit, for example, now qualifies with a $250,000 bond instead of full CPA-reviewed financials.
Frequently Asked Questions
What changed recently in state surety bond requirements?
The most significant recent changes are Louisiana's new money transmitter bond requirement (effective July 1, 2026), Louisiana's notary bond increase to $50,000 (effective February 1, 2026), Georgia's used car dealer bond increase to $50,000 (effective July 1, 2026), Ohio's used car dealer bond increase to $75,000 (effective April 1, 2026), and Tennessee's new contractor bond option (effective July 1, 2026). See the cards above for details and sources.
How is this page kept current?
Ashton Agency tracks bond-amount and licensing-requirement changes across states and industries and adds them here once confirmed against an official source — a state legislature, secretary of state, or licensing agency, not a secondary summary. There's no fixed publishing schedule; items are added as real changes are confirmed.
Does a bond-amount increase affect my current bond?
It depends on your renewal date and the specific law. Most increases apply at your next renewal, not immediately — but some laws (like Louisiana's new notary bond rule) remove the grace period entirely. Call our team to confirm how a specific change affects your bond.