H.B. No. 3782 amends Section 2051.0441 of the Government Code to update the requirements for the type of newspaper in which public notices must be published. The bill specifies that, except under certain conditions, a newspaper must devote at least 20 percent of its total column lineage to general interest items, be published weekly, have a significant circulation in the county, and have 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 local staff, report on local events and governmental activities, provide general interest news, and update its content weekly. This change reflects a shift towards accommodating digital media in the dissemination of public notices. The bill will take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that vote is not achieved.

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