SB1062 - Relating to the type of newspaper required for publication of public notices.

      S.B. No. 1062         AN ACT   relating to the type of newspaper required for publication of   public notices.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 2051.0441, Government Code, is amended   by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as   follows:          (b)   Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), the [ The ]   newspaper in which a notice is published under this section must:                (1)  devote not less than 20 percent of its total column   lineage to general interest items;                (2)  be published at least once each week;                (3)  be entered as periodical postal matter in the   county where published or have a mailed or delivered circulation of   at least 51 percent of the residences in the county where published;   and                (4)  have been published regularly and continuously for   at least 12 months before the governmental entity or representative   publishes notice.           (b-1)     In lieu of publishing a notice in a newspaper under   Subsection (b), a governmental entity may publish a notice in a   digital newspaper if that digital newspaper:                 (1)  has an audited paid-subscriber base;                 (2)  has been in business for at least three years;                 (3)     employs staff in the jurisdiction of the   governmental entity;                 (4)     reports on local events and governmental   activities in the jurisdiction of the governmental entity;                 (5)     provides news of general interest to people in the   jurisdiction of the governmental entity; and                 (6)  updates its news at least once each week.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.             ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                 I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1062 passed the Senate on   April 10, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.       ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate                I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1062 passed the House on   May 2, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 125, Nays 0, one present   not voting.       ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House            Approved:     ______________________________                Date       ______________________________              Governor