Substitute House Bill No. 6812 seeks to amend the regulations surrounding the publication of municipal legal notices in Connecticut. The bill introduces new definitions, including "chief elected official," "municipality," and "sufficient circulation," which is defined as a readership of at least 15% of households based on the latest decennial census. Municipalities are permitted to publish legal notices in weekly newspapers until June 30, 2026, after which they must publish in either a daily or weekly newspaper with sufficient circulation or, if none exists, on their website. Starting July 1, 2027, municipalities are required to maintain legal notices on their websites for at least 90 days, ensuring public access to this information.

The bill modifies existing laws by replacing the requirement for a newspaper with "a substantial circulation" with one that requires a paper with "sufficient circulation." It also stipulates that any errors in published legal notices that are not the municipality's fault will not invalidate the notice. Furthermore, the bill expands the authority for publishing required notices in free weekly papers to include local ordinances or regulations, although this provision will expire when the transition period ends. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and may impose costs on municipalities as they adapt to the new requirements, particularly in assessing newspaper circulation.

Statutes affected:
PD Joint Favorable Substitute: 1-2
File No. 719: 1-2