| Senate Committee Advances Legal Notices Bill
Trenton – The current law requiring the publication of public notices in New Jersey newspapers would be extended for an additional two months and expanded to include online outlets, under terms of bipartisan legislation approved by a Senate committee today.
Sponsored by Senator Paul Sarlo, Senate President Nick Scutari and Senate Republican Leader Anthony Bucco, the bill, S-3957, would continue the dissemination of official public notices and legal advertisements through newspapers, with the addition of digital versions of the qualifying news outlets until March 1, 2025.
“This is an interim solution that will hold everyone harmless while we take a deeper dive into what is an important and complex issue,” said Senator Sarlo, the chair of the Senate Budget Committee. “It will allow municipal and county governments to reorganize in the New Year and keep the public fully informed. We need to take the time to get this right with an updated process that maintains public transparency and protects the taxpayers.”
“The rapid changes in the news industry threaten to make the existing public notification system ineffective,” said Senator Scutari. “We need to modernize the law so that the public continues to be fully informed of the actions of government entities with a process that maintains transparency and accessibility. This bill gives us the time to work together for a long-term remedy.”
“This stop-gap measure will give us time to establish a plan that both recognizes and utilizes technological advancements while maintaining the familiarity and transparency that constituents are accustomed to,” said Senator Bucco. “With this bill, we can slow down the process, bring all stakeholders to the table, and ensure we find a solution that works for everyone.”
The public notices include everything from public meetings and ordinances to the procurement of goods and services.
The legislation was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee with a unanimous vote. It will be scheduled for consideration by the full Senate on December 19. |
