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Committee rejects optional parish switch from print to parish websites for legal notices
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Summary
Senate Bill 146, which would have allowed parishes the option to post required public notices on parish websites instead of paid newspaper publication, failed in committee after opposition from the Louisiana Press Association and questions about public access and archival permanence.
Senate Bill 146, offered as an option for parish governments to publish required notices on their own websites rather than pay a private newspaper, failed to advance out of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee on April 22 after a 2‑4 roll call vote.
Sponsor Senator Fessy argued the bill would save recurring taxpayer money — he cited statewide costs of roughly $1–2 million for mandatory newspaper publication — and said parishes should have the option to use taxpayer‑operated digital platforms. Supporters including the Police Jury Association framed the change as optional and said many parishes already post notices online in addition to print publication.
The Louisiana Press Association’s executive director David McHugh and board president Sam Hanna testified in opposition, warning that removing a third‑party printed record would place government in control of what is made available to the public and could eliminate independent oversight. “It places government in charge of determining which information it makes available to the public and which information it won't,” Sam Hanna said.
Committee members questioned access for older residents who rely on print and whether digital notices would be preserved if a private or parish site became unavailable. After debate, the motion to move SB 146 favorably failed and the bill remains in committee.
