This bill amends New Jersey laws to modernize the dissemination of public notices by allowing public bodies to provide required notices through both traditional newspapers and online news outlets. It introduces new definitions for terms such as "designated publication address," "original, general news content," and "paid online content," while redefining "adequate notice" to include electronic publications. The bill mandates that notices be sent to at least two newspapers, including those that publish online, and establishes qualifications for these publications, such as maintaining an English-language website and a significant amount of original news content. Additionally, all official advertising must be published on the designated website, njpublicnotices.com, at no cost to the public.

The legislation also addresses the qualifications for newspapers and online publications to publish official advertisements, allowing those that relocate within the same or adjacent counties to continue publishing for two years if they maintain their qualifications. It sets a new pricing structure for official advertisements based on the number of bona fide net paid subscribers and allows municipalities to designate official publications with a history of local news coverage. Furthermore, the bill includes provisions for cases where no qualified publication is available, ensuring that official advertisements can still be published in a qualifying outlet that has maintained its designated address for at least two years. Overall, the bill aims to enhance transparency and accessibility in public notice dissemination while adapting to the digital landscape.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 10:4-8