DES MOINES, IOWA (September 2, 2026) — The National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) has announced that Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate has been selected to serve as one of the bipartisan co-chairs on a NASS committee. Alongside the Executive Board, the standing Committees contribute to the association’s mission in relevant issue areas.
Sec Pate, who served as President of NASS from 2019-2020, will serve as Business Services Committee Co-Chair for the upcoming 2026-27 term. He most recently served as the Business Services Committee Co-Chair in 2024-25, and Elections Committee Co-Chair in 2023-24.
“I appreciate the opportunity to continue this work with NASS. Business filings and corporate registrations are foundational to how states protect entrepreneurs and consumers alike,” said Sec Pate.
“Iowa has made real progress on business identity theft and fraud prevention, including our work through the STOP Fraud Act, and I look forward to sharing what we've learned while hearing how other states are tackling similar challenges.”
Sec Pate will serve alongside California Secretary of State Shirley Weber. Dedicated to informing and educating NASS members about best practices regarding corporate registrations and business filings, the Business Services Committee meets in person twice a year at the NASS Winter and Summer Conferences, with virtual meetings occurring throughout the year. Business identity-theft awareness and prevention are also a key priority of the Committee.
These efforts mirror and support Sec Pate’s recent efforts to address business fraud in Iowa. Earlier this year, Sec Pate championed the STOP Fraud Act, which was signed into law and took effect on July 1 this year. The legislation provides the Sec of State’s Office with a much-needed pathway to dissolve fraudulent businesses using fictitious addresses with their business filings.
“Our committees play a vital role in facilitating collaboration among the states,” said Steve Hobbs, NASS President and Washington Secretary of State.
“The expertise and dedication of these co-chairs will foster productive dialog, encourage the exchange of innovative ideas, and advance the important work of NASS in the year ahead. I congratulate each of them on their appointment and thank them for their willingness to serve.”
Founded in 1904, NASS is the nation's oldest, nonpartisan professional organization for public officials, with membership open to the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and all US territories. The association serves as a medium for exchanging information between states and fosters cooperation on public policy, with key initiatives in elections and voting, state business services, cybersecurity, and archives and records management.
