S.B. No. 1062 amends Section 2051.0441 of the Government Code to update the requirements for the publication of public notices. The bill specifies that, except under certain conditions, public notices must be published in a newspaper that meets specific criteria, including devoting at least 20 percent of its total column lineage to general interest items, being published weekly, having a significant circulation in the county, and having been in continuous publication for at least 12 months.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new provision allowing governmental entities to publish notices in a digital newspaper as an alternative to traditional print newspapers. To qualify, the digital newspaper must have an audited paid-subscriber base, be in operation for at least three years, employ staff within the jurisdiction, report on local events and governmental activities, provide news of general interest, and update its content weekly. This change reflects a shift towards accommodating digital media in the dissemination of public information.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 2051.044 (Government Code 2051)
Senate Committee Report: Government Code 2051.0441 (Government Code 2051)