The bill, S.B. No. 1062, amends Section 2051.044 of the Government Code regarding the requirements for newspapers used for the publication of public notices. The existing law stipulates that a newspaper must meet certain criteria, including devoting at least 25 percent of its total column lineage to general interest items, being published weekly, and having a history of at least 12 months of continuous publication. The bill introduces a new provision, Subsection (a-1), which allows governmental entities to publish notices in a digital newspaper as an alternative to traditional print newspapers, provided that the digital newspaper meets specific criteria such as having an audited paid-subscriber base, being in business for at least three years, employing local staff, reporting on local events, providing general interest news, and updating its content weekly.

This change aims to modernize the process of public notice publication by recognizing the role of digital media in disseminating information. The bill will take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote from both houses of the legislature; otherwise, it will become effective on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 2051.044 (Government Code 2051)