House approves law letting some free community papers publish legal notices in select counties

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House passed House Bill 429 on March 5, changing which publications may be used to publish local legal notices. Representative Anderson said the bill modernizes language and allows some free community newspapers to qualify as publications for certain legal notices, replacing outdated postal classifications.

Under an amendment adopted on the floor (limiting the change to counties of the first and second class), free community publications may be used when they meet circulation thresholds and timing requirements. The sponsor said an independent audit showed the publication in question claimed 100% distribution in much of the valley and that 83.3% of recipients reported reading the paper; the bill requires qualifying publications to meet at least a 55% distribution test.

Opponents and questioners raised concerns about timeliness and readership guarantees, noting many community papers distribute monthly and would not work for time-sensitive notices that require multiple postings within a short period. The sponsor said municipalities retain the option to publish in daily or weekly paid newspapers when notices are time-sensitive.

Representative Hutchings and others spoke in support, saying the change expands options for municipalities to choose notice outlets that actually reach residents. After extended debate and adoption of the amendment limiting applicability to larger counties, the House passed HB429 with a recorded tally of 54 yes and 17 no. The bill will be transmitted to the Senate.

The floor debate emphasized the bill is optional for local governments; municipalities would still be required to meet the notice content and timing rules for each type of notice and may continue to use larger paid newspapers for time-sensitive postings.