bill letting small towns skip newspaper legal notices

The text as introduced · 475 words

89R3128 MP-D

By: Hagenbuch
S.B. No. 1508

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to certain political subdivisions publishing required

notices by alternative media.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 2051, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter C-1 to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER C-1. NOTICE BY PUBLICATION IN MEDIA OTHER THAN

NEWSPAPER BY CERTAIN POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS

Sec. 2051.081. APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies only

to a political subdivision with a population of 75,000 or less and

in which there is no newspaper of general circulation. If no

population is specified for a political subdivision in the federal

decennial census, the population of the political subdivision is

the population determined by the attorney general for purposes of

this section.

Sec. 2051.082. NOTICE BY ALTERNATIVE MEDIA. (a) A

political subdivision may satisfy a requirement in any other law to

provide notice by publication in a newspaper by publishing the

notice:

(1) by media described by Subsection (d); and

(2) for a continuous period of not less than two weeks

in a prominent location on an Internet website maintained by the

political subdivision that does not require user registration or

payment for access.

(b) A political subdivision that publishes notice on an

Internet website under Subsection (a)(2) must ensure that:

(1) the Internet website and the notices are

searchable; and

(2) a user is able to search the notices by:

(A) subject matter;

(B) the location required to be provided in the

notice under the other laws that require notice by publication in a

newspaper; and

(C) both subject matter and location.

(c) Before providing notice by an alternative method under

Subsection (a), a political subdivision must hold a public meeting

about the alternative notice method.

(d) The following forms of media are authorized for

providing notice under Subsection (a)(1):

(1) social media;

(2) free newspapers;

(3) school newspapers;

(4) a homeowners' association newsletter or magazine;

(5) utility bills;

(6) direct mailings; and

(7) a print or digital newsletter.

(e) A political subdivision that provides notice using

alternative media under this section shall submit notice to the

attorney general describing the alternative notice method that

includes:

(1) a list of the other laws requiring notice by

publication in a newspaper for which notice published under this

section is an alternative;

(2) a description of the alternative media used for

the notice; and

(3) a link to the Internet website maintained by the

political subdivision where the public notice will be posted.

(f) After receipt of the notice under Subsection (e), the

attorney general shall promptly publish on the attorney general's

Internet website a list of political subdivisions that provide

notice as described by this subchapter.

Sec. 2051.083. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. The attorney general

may adopt rules necessary to administer this subchapter.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.