SB 1062: Kolkhorst’s bill allows public notices in digital newspapers

Caption

relating to the type of newspaper required for publication of public notices.

Summary

Governments can skip print for required notices.

The bill lets a Texas government body publish its required public notices in a digital newspaper instead of a print newspaper. It touches cities, counties, districts and other governmental entities that must publish notices, plus print and online news outlets competing for that notice business. A digital outlet qualifies only if it has an audited paid-subscriber base, has been in business at least three years, employs local staff, covers local events and government, and updates at least weekly.

Labels

Labels: INSTANT LAW. Took effect immediately, on May 19, 2025. 833 of the 1,185 graded 89R laws took effect Sep 1, 2025 (derived from the bill histories, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB1062 · 2025-02-03

SOLD BY

Sen. Lois KolkhorstRSenate 18

+ 1 coauthor

ITEM

relating to the type of newspaper required for publication of public notices.

WHAT IT DOES

Governments can skip print for required notices.

The bill lets a Texas government body publish its required public notices in a digital newspaper instead of a print newspaper. It touches cities, counties, districts and other governmental entities that must publish notices, plus print and online news outlets competing for that notice business. A digital outlet qualifies only if it has an audited paid-subscriber base, has been in business at least three years, employs local staff, covers local events and government, and updates at least weekly.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version H · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version H · April 25, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

Feb 3, 2025Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Feb 3, 2025Filed
Feb 24, 2025Read first time
Feb 24, 2025Referred to Local Government
Mar 17, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Mar 17, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 17, 2025Testimony taken in committee
Mar 17, 2025Left pending in committee
Mar 20, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 20, 2025Vote taken in committee
Mar 24, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
Mar 24, 2025Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
Mar 24, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
Apr 10, 2025Co-author authorized
Apr 10, 2025Placed on local & uncontested calendar
Apr 10, 2025Laid before the Senate
Apr 10, 2025Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
Apr 10, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
Apr 10, 2025Three day rule suspended
Apr 10, 2025Record vote
Apr 10, 2025Read 3rd time
Apr 10, 2025Passed
Apr 10, 2025Record vote
Apr 10, 2025Reported engrossed
Apr 14, 2025Received from the Senate
Apr 17, 2025Read first time
Apr 17, 2025Referred to State Affairs
Apr 25, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 25, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
Apr 28, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
Apr 28, 2025Committee report distributed
Apr 29, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 1, 2025Laid out in lieu of companion HB 3782
May 1, 2025Read 2nd time
May 1, 2025Passed to 3rd reading
May 1, 2025Record vote RV#1215
May 1, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 2, 2025Read 3rd time
May 2, 2025Passed
May 2, 2025Record vote RV#1350
May 2, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 5, 2025House passage reported
May 5, 2025Reported enrolled
May 7, 2025Signed in the Senate
May 7, 2025Signed in the House
May 7, 2025Sent to the Governor
May 19, 2025Signed by the Governor
May 19, 2025Effective immediately

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 125 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 2, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 10, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Lois Kolkhorst

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$60K Border Health PAC$35K SRR Ranches, LLC$30K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 11, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$60,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash: $60,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $60,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 19, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101007416, 101012417, 101070754.

Border Health PAC$35,000.00

Border Health PAC

$35,000.00

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $35,000.00

Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 6, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101012417.

SRR Ranches, LLC$30,000.00

SRR Ranches, LLC

$30,000.00

Cash: $30,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $30,000.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101012417, 101070754.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash: $60,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $60,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 19, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101007416, 101012417, 101070754.

×

Border Health PAC

$35,000.00

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $35,000.00

Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 6, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101012417.

×

SRR Ranches, LLC

$30,000.00

Cash: $30,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $30,000.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101012417, 101070754.

Votes5

House May 2, 2025

Yea: 125
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 2
Excused: 22

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1350

SB 1062 was passed by (Record 1350): 125 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 125 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
Excused: 22 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 1, 2025

Yea: 145
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 0
Excused: 4

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1215

SB 1062 was passed to third reading by (Record 1215): 145 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 145 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 4 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Final passage

Yea: 30
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

CSSB 1062 (Kolkhorst) Relating to the type of newspaper required for publication of public notices. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 30 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea: 30
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

CSSB 1062 (Kolkhorst) Relating to the type of newspaper required for publication of public notices. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 30 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Passage to engrossment

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to engrossment. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

CSSB 1062 (Kolkhorst) Relating to the type of newspaper required for publication of public notices. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses13

For: 13
Against: 0
On: 0

Names

For

Association of Water Board Directors1 registration
City of Denton1 registration
City of Houston1 registration
City of San Antonio1 registration
City of Sugar Land1 registration
Conference of URBAN counties1 registration
Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas1 registration
Schwartz, Page & Harding, LLP1 registration
Self1 registration
Self; Texas Press Association1 registration
Self; Texas Press Association and Denton Record Chronicle1 registration
Texas Association of School Boards1 registration
Texas Municipal League1 registration

Sources

13 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version H · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version H · April 25, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Feb 3, 2025

05/19/2025 E Effective immediately

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed · House Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors

Royce WestDSenate 23

Companion

HB 3782 by Smithee (identical)

Subjects

City Government--General

Communications & Press

County Government--General

EMAIL & ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

PUBLIC NOTICE

Text

The text as introduced · 277 words

89R8930 JBD-D

By: Kolkhorst
S.B. No. 1062

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the type of newspaper required for publication of

public notices.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 2051.044, Government Code, is amended by

amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as

follows:

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), the [ The ]

newspaper in which a notice is published must:

(1) devote not less than 25 percent of its total column

lineage to general interest items;

(2) be published at least once each week;

(3) be entered as second-class postal matter in the

county where published; and

(4) have been published regularly and continuously for

at least 12 months before the governmental entity or representative

publishes notice.

(a-1) In lieu of publishing a notice in a newspaper under

Subsection (a), a governmental entity may publish a notice in a

digital newspaper if that digital newspaper:

(1) has an audited paid-subscriber base;

(2) has been in business for at least three years;

(3) employs staff in the jurisdiction of the

governmental entity;

(4) reports on local events and governmental

activities in the jurisdiction of the governmental entity;

(5) provides news of general interest to people in the

jurisdiction of the governmental entity; and

(6) updates its news at least once each week.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Verdict: No flags

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

Border Health PAC

SRR Ranches, LLC

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

Border Health PAC

SRR Ranches, LLC

House May 2, 2025

House May 1, 2025

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Senate Apr 10, 2025

For

Companion