Senate passes bill allowing counties to publish legal notices on qualifying local news websites; senators warn of statewide cost

The Senate on the floor approved House Bill 7 73, which requires that when legal notices must be published in a county newspaper of general circulation, the notices also be published on one qualifying news-and-information website in that county if one is available.

Sponsor Senator Yaeger said the bill “does not affect the newspapers as it simply adds another layer of transparency for legal notices to the general public,” and explained the bill “sets out the criteria to determine a website of news and general information.” He noted the amendment before the Senate applies in practice to a single county that sought the change.

The bill defines criteria for websites that may carry legal notices, requires the website to be separate and distinct from the newspaper of general circulation, and prohibits publishing notices on a site that requires a fee or subscription to view. Senator Yaeger said the measure addresses a situation in Campbell County and that, under the bill’s criteria, only that county currently qualifies.

Senator Yarborough, speaking in opposition, said the statutory criteria could apply broadly and warned the change would effectively require duplicate notices. “Every private person or company that's doing a notice, every county agency, even the state, when it's issuing notices, is going to have to do two notices,” Yarborough said, and he urged the body to consider increased statewide costs to local governments and the state. He said the bill “will have significant statewide impact on our constituents,” and that the bill does not provide for the related costs.

After debate, the clerk announced the vote and the presiding officer declared the bill passed. The roll-call totals as read in the chamber were not clearly recorded in the floor transcript.