This bill amends and reenacts several sections of Louisiana's public printing laws, specifically R.S. 43:81(A), 140(3), 142, and 171(A)(2) and (3), while also enacting new sections R.S. 43:81.1, 140.1, 140.2, 147.3, 171.1, 171.2, and 175. Key changes include the qualifications for a newspaper to be designated as the "Official Journal of the State" or for political subdivisions, with a significant reduction in the required publication period from five years to two years. The bill also introduces provisions for newspapers that may not meet the standard publishing frequency but can still be selected as official journals under certain conditions, such as being able to publish required notices within a specified timeframe.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the official journal of the state and political subdivisions must include a statement of the costs charged for publication, which cannot be billed to the state agency or political subdivision for this statement. The bill repeals R.S. 43:171(B) entirely and establishes that the new provisions regarding cost statements will take effect for publications on or after January 1, 2025. Overall, the legislation aims to modernize the public printing process and ensure transparency in the costs associated with official publications.

Statutes affected:
HB977 Original: 43:81(A), 43:140(3), 43:171(A)(2), 43:171(B)
HB977 Engrossed: 43:81(A), 43:140(3), 43:171(A)(2), 43:171(B)
HB977 Reengrossed: 43:81(A), 43:140(3), 43:171(A)(2), 43:171(B)
HB977 Enrolled: 43:81(A), 43:140(3), 43:171(A)(2), 43:171(B)
HB977 Act : 43:81(A), 43:140(3), 43:171(A)(2), 43:171(B)