The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7146, aims to modify the requirements for municipalities regarding the publication of legal notices. 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 in a municipality based on the most recent decennial census. The bill allows municipalities to publish legal notices in weekly newspapers until June 30, 2026, and mandates that from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, legal notices must be published in a newspaper with sufficient circulation or, if none exists, on the municipality's website. After June 30, 2027, the same requirements will apply, ensuring that legal notices are accessible either through a newspaper or online.

Additionally, the bill outlines the responsibilities of the chief elected official in each municipality to assess and select newspapers for publishing legal notices based on their circulation. It also establishes guidelines for municipalities to publish legal notices on their websites, including maintaining a link for public access and ensuring notices are available for at least 90 days. Importantly, the bill states that any errors in published legal notices that are not the municipality's fault will not invalidate the notice, and it clarifies that the time required for giving legal notice remains unchanged. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 1-2