Bill Text: NJ A5182 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Allows public bodies to provide required notices to newspapers distributed online and establishes related publication requirements; establishes rates that newspapers and online news publications may charge for each notice posted online.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-06-01 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee [A5182 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-A5182-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman HEATHER SIMMONS
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
SYNOPSIS
Allows public bodies to provide required notices to newspapers distributed online and establishes related publication requirements; establishes rates that newspapers and online news publications may charge for each notice posted online.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning publication of official advertising and amending various sections of statutory law.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 3 of P.L.1975, c.231 (C.10:4-8) is amended to read as follows:
3. As used in this act:
a. "Public body" means a commission, authority, board, council, committee or any other group of two or more persons organized under the laws of this State, and collectively empowered as a voting body to perform a public governmental function affecting the rights, duties, obligations, privileges, benefits, or other legal relations of any person, or collectively authorized to spend public funds including the Legislature, but does not mean or include the judicial branch of the government, any grand or petit jury, any parole board or any agency or body acting in a parole capacity, the State Commission of Investigation, the Apportionment Commission established under Article IV, Section III, of the Constitution, or any political party committee organized under Title 19 of the Revised Statutes.
b. "Meeting" means and includes any gathering whether corporeal or by means of communication equipment, which is attended by, or open to, all of the members of a public body, held with the intent, on the part of the members of the body present, to discuss or act as a unit upon the specific public business of that body. Meeting does not mean or include any such gathering (1) attended by less than an effective majority of the members of a public body, or (2) attended by or open to all the members of three or more similar public bodies at a convention or similar gathering.
c. "Public business" means and includes all matters which relate in any way, directly or indirectly, to the performance of the public body's functions or the conduct of its business.
d. "Adequate notice" means written advance notice of at least 48 hours, giving the time, date, location and, to the extent known, the agenda of any regular, special or rescheduled meeting, which notice shall accurately state whether formal action may or may not be taken and which shall be (1) prominently posted in at least one public place reserved for such or similar announcements, (2) physically mailed, electronically mailed, telephoned, telegrammed, or hand delivered to at least two newspapers, including newspapers published in part or in whole electronically on the Internet or an online news publication, which newspapers shall be designated by the public body to receive such notices because they have the greatest likelihood of informing the public within the area of jurisdiction of the public body of such meetings, one of which shall be the official newspaper, where any such has been designated by the public body or if the public body has failed to so designate, where any has been designated by the governing body of the political subdivision whose geographic boundaries are coextensive with that of the public body and (3) filed with the clerk of the municipality when the public body's geographic boundaries are coextensive with that of a single municipality, with the clerk of the county when the public body's geographic boundaries are coextensive with that of a single county, and with the Secretary of State if the public body has Statewide jurisdiction. For any other public body the filing shall be with the clerk or chief administrative officer of such other public body and each municipal or county clerk of each municipality or county encompassed within the jurisdiction of such public body. Where annual notice or revisions thereof in compliance with section 13 of this act set forth the location of any meeting, no further notice shall be required for such meeting.
(cf: P.L.1981, c.176, s.2)
2. R.S.35:1-1 is amended to read as follows:
35:1-1. As used in this title [,] :
"Designated publication address" means a physical, publicly accessible, by appointment or otherwise, New Jersey address, identified by the newspaper or online news publication and owned or leased by the newspaper or online news publication, where activities are conducted that meaningfully contribute to the publication of the newspaper or online news publication. Although a newspaper or online news publication may have more than one office, located within or outside of New Jersey, it shall have only one designated publication address, which shall be displayed on the Internet website of the newspaper or online news publication. The publication office of any newspaper that publishes a print edition shall constitute its designated publication address.
"News" means any written, oral, or pictorial information gathered, procured, transmitted, compiled, edited, or disseminated by, or on behalf of any person engaged in, engaged on, connected with or employed by a news media and so procured or obtained while that required relationship is in effect.
["official] "Official advertising," [and] "official advertisements," "legal advertising," "legal advertisements," and "pubic notice" include all matters required by law to be published. All official advertising, official advertisements, legal advertising, legal advertisements, and public notices shall be published entirely in the English language and shall be published in a qualified newspaper or online news publication pursuant to R.S.35:1-2.1 and R.S.35:1-2.2.
"Original, general news content" means content created or produced by or on behalf of a newspaper or online news publication, or any parent, affiliate, or subsidiary thereof, which is also a newspaper or online news publication and which includes regular coverage of State, county, and local government.
"Paid online content" means online news content available to paid subscribers through the newspaper's or online news publication's Internet website, mobile application, or other similar platform.
(cf: R.S.35:1-1)
3. R.S.35:1-2.1 is amended to read as follows:
35:1-2.1. a. Whenever it is required to publish resolutions, official proclamations, notices or advertising of any sort, kind or character, including proposals for bids on public work and otherwise, by this State or by any board or body constituted and established for the performance of any State duty or by any State official or office or commission, the newspaper [or newspapers] selected for [such] the publication [must] shall meet and satisfy the following qualifications, namely: [said] the newspaper [or newspapers] shall be [entirely printed] predominantly in the English language[,]; shall be [printed and] published within the State of New Jersey[,]; shall be a newspaper of general paid circulation [possessing], the price for which shall be more than nominal; shall contain an average news content of not less than [thirty-five per centum (35%),] 35 percent original, general news content; shall have been published continuously in the municipality where its publication office is [situate] located for not less than two years; and shall have been entered for two years as [second-class] periodical class mail [matter] under the postal laws and regulations of the United States. In case a newspaper cannot meet these qualifications[,] itself, but has acquired another newspaper which meets these qualifications, the acquiring newspaper shall be deemed to meet these qualifications if it is published in the same municipality and entered in the same post office as was the acquired newspaper. Continuous publication within the meaning of this section shall not be deemed interrupted by any involuntary suspension of publication for a period not exceeding six months, resulting from loss, destruction, mechanical or electrical failure of typesetting equipment or printing presses or the unavailability, due to conditions beyond the control of the publisher, of paper or other materials and supplies necessary for operation, or resulting from a labor dispute with a recognized labor union, and any newspaper so affected shall not be disqualified hereunder in the event that publication is resumed within said period of six months.
b. A newspaper that meets the qualifications for publication of official advertising set forth in subsection a. of this section, and which continues to be published solely as a print edition after the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), shall, in order to qualify to publish official advertising, continue to satisfy the qualifications set forth in subsection a. and also maintain an Internet website that is predominantly in the English language, the homepage of which shall display a free, publicly-accessible hyperlink to njpublicnotices.com, an Internet website maintained by the New Jersey Press Association, on which the newspaper shall contemporaneously cause to be published all official advertising published in the newspaper's print edition.
c. A newspaper that meets the qualifications for publication of official advertising set forth in subsection a. of this section and which, after the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), publishes, in addition to a print edition, paid online content, shall, in order to qualify to official advertising, electronically publish all official advertising in the newspaper's paid online content. The newspaper shall also maintain an Internet website, the homepage of which shall display a free, publicly-accessible hyperlink to njpublicnotices.com, an Internet website maintained by the New Jersey Press Association, on which the newspaper shall contemporaneously cause to be published all official advertising published in the newspaper's paid online content. The newspaper may publish official advertising in its print edition.
The newspaper shall also satisfy, in addition to the requirements set forth in subsection a. of this section, the following requirements: its Internet website and paid online content shall be predominantly in the English language; its price for subscriptions to paid online content shall be more than nominal; and its paid online content shall contain an average of not less than 35 percent original, general news content.
d. A news entity that, on or after January 1, 2025, ceases to publish a print edition newspaper and instead publishes an online news publication with paid online content, shall be qualified to publish official advertising in its paid online content if the previously published print edition newspaper met the qualifications for publishing official advertising set forth in subsection a. of this section for the two consecutive years immediately preceding the commencement of publication solely online. The online news publication shall maintain an Internet website that is predominantly in the English language, the homepage of which shall display a free, publicly-accessible hyperlink to njpublicnotices.com, an Internet website maintained by the New Jersey Press Association, on which the online news publication shall contemporaneously cause to be published all official advertising published in the online news publication's paid online content. The online news publication's paid online content shall: be predominantly in the English language; have more than a nominal number of paid subscribers, who shall pay a subscription price that is more than nominal; and contain an average of not less than 35 percent original, general news content. The online news publication shall also maintain a designated publication address.
e. In order for an online news publication, for which subsections a. through d. of this section do not apply, to qualify to publish official advertising in its paid online content, the online news publication shall maintain an Internet website that is predominantly in the English language, the homepage of which shall display a free, publicly-accessible hyperlink to njpublicnotices.com, an Internet website maintained by the New Jersey Press Association, on which the online news publication shall contemporaneously cause to be published all official advertising published in the online news publication's paid online content. The online news publication's paid online content shall: be predominantly in the English language; be updated with original, general news content at least once a week; have more than a nominal number of paid subscribers, who shall pay a subscription price that is more than nominal; and contain an average of not less than 35 percent original, general news content. The online news publication shall maintain a designated publication address and employ recognized standards of professional journalism. The online news publication shall satisfy all of the foregoing requirements in this subsection for at least two consecutive years subsequent to the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), and immediately preceding the first publication of any official advertising and shall continue thereafter to satisfy these requirements.
f. All official advertising published on njpublicnotices.com shall be available to the public free of charge.
g. With the exception of the requirement to display on its Internet website homepage a free, publicly-accessible hyperlink to njpublicnotices.com, a newspaper or online news publication shall not be required to publish, or be prohibited from publishing on its Internet website, mobile application, or other similar platform, any content that is also contained in its print newspaper or paid online content. Only material published in a print newspaper or paid online content is to be considered in determining whether a newspaper or online news publication is qualified to publish official advertising, as set forth in subsections a. through e. of this section.
(cf: P.L.1953, c.411, s.1)
4. R.S.35:1-2.2 is amended to read as follows:
35:1-2.2. a. Whenever, by law, it is required that there be published by printing and publishing in a newspaper [or newspapers], ordinances, resolutions, or notices or advertisements of any sort, kind, or character by any county, city, or other municipality or municipal corporation, or by any municipal board or official board, or body, or office, or officials, or by any person or corporation, [such] the newspaper [or newspapers must] shall, in addition to any other qualification now required by law, meet the following qualifications, namely: [said] the newspaper [or newspapers] shall be [entirely printed] predominantly in the English language[,]; shall be [printed and] published within the State of New Jersey[,]; shall be a newspaper of general paid circulation [possessing] , the price for which shall be more than nominal; shall contain an average [news content] of not less than 35[%,] percent original, general news content; shall have been published continuously in the municipality where its publication office is [situate] located for not less than [2] two years; and shall have been entered for [2] two years as [second-class] periodical class mail [matter] under the postal laws and regulations of the United States. In case a newspaper cannot meet these qualifications itself but has acquired another newspaper which meets these qualifications, the acquiring newspaper shall be deemed to meet these qualifications if it is published in the same municipality and entered in the same post office as was the acquired newspaper. Continuous publication within the meaning of this section shall not be deemed interrupted by any involuntary suspension of publication for a period not exceeding [6] six months resulting from loss, destruction, mechanical or electrical failure of typesetting equipment or printing presses or the unavailability, due to conditions beyond the control or the publisher, of paper or other materials and supplies necessary for operation, or resulting from a labor dispute with a recognized labor union, and any newspaper so affected shall not be disqualified hereunder in the event that publication is resumed within said period of [6] six months.
For the purposes of this section and for the purpose of qualifying [for legal advertisements] to publish official advertising generally, any newspaper which for not less than [2] two years shall have been continuously printed in a building located within two municipalities and which for not less than [2] two years shall have continuously maintained its editorial and business offices in [said] that building shall be deemed to have been published continuously in each of [said] those municipalities during that period and its publication office shall be deemed to have been [situate] located in each municipality during that period.
In the event any newspaper which shall have been qualified to publish [legal advertisements] official advertising shall move its publication office to any municipality in the same county or in an adjacent county in this State and which shall otherwise continue to meet the qualifications of this section, it shall be qualified to publish [legal advertisements] official advertising which it was qualified to publish prior to moving [said] the publication office for a period of [2] two years after the date of the moving of its publication office or such period as [said] the newspaper shall have the highest paid circulation of any newspaper within the county or municipality which shall use [said] the newspaper for [legal advertisements] official advertising.
b. A newspaper that meets the qualifications for publication of official advertising pursuant to subsection a. of this section, and which continues to be published solely as a print edition after the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), shall, in order to qualify to publish official advertising: continue to meet the qualifications set forth in subsection a. of this section; and maintain an Internet website that is predominantly in the English language, the homepage of which shall display a free, publicly-accessible hyperlink to njpublicnotices.com, an Internet website maintained by the New Jersey Press Association, on which the newspaper shall contemporaneously cause to be published all official advertising published in the newspaper's print edition.
c. A newspaper that meets the qualifications for publication of official advertising set forth in subsection a. of this section and which, after the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), publishes, in addition to a print edition, paid online content, shall, in order to qualify to publish official advertising, be required to publish all official advertisements in the newspaper's paid online content. The newspaper shall also be required to maintain an Internet website, the homepage of which shall display a free, publicly-accessible hyperlink to njpublicnotices.com, an Internet website maintained by the New Jersey Press Association, on which the newspaper shall contemporaneously cause to be published all official advertising published in the newspaper's paid online content. The newspaper may publish official advertising in its print edition.
The newspaper shall also satisfy, in addition to the requirements set forth in subsection a. of this section, the following requirements: its Internet website and paid online content shall be predominantly in the English language; its price for subscriptions to paid online content shall be more than nominal; and its paid online content shall contain an average of not less than 35 percent original, general news content.
d. A news entity that, on or after January 1, 2025, ceases to publish a print edition newspaper and instead publishes an online news publication with paid online content, shall be qualified to publish official advertising in its paid online content if the previously published print edition newspaper met the qualifications for publishing official advertising set forth in subsection a. of this section for the two consecutive years immediately preceding the commencement of publication solely online. The online news publication shall maintain an Internet website that is predominantly in the English language, the homepage of which shall display a free, publicly-accessible hyperlink to njpublicnotices.com, an Internet website maintained by the New Jersey Press Association, on which the online news publication shall contemporaneously cause to be published all official advertising published in the online news publication's paid online content. The online news publication's paid online content shall: be predominantly in the English language; have more than a nominal number of paid subscribers, who shall pay a subscription price that is more than nominal; and contain an average of not less than 35 percent original, general news content. The online news publication shall also maintain a designated publication address.
e. In order for an online news publication, for which subsections a. through d. of this section do not apply, to qualify to publish official advertising in its paid online content, the online news publication shall maintain an Internet website that is predominantly in the English language, the homepage of which shall display a free, publicly-accessible hyperlink to njpublicnotices.com, an Internet website maintained by the New Jersey Press Association, on which the online news publication shall contemporaneously cause to be published all official advertising published in the online news publication's paid online content. The online news publication's paid online content shall: be predominantly in the English language; be updated with original, general news content at least once a week; have more than a nominal number of paid subscribers, who shall pay a subscription price that is more than nominal; and contain an average of not less than 35 percent original, general news content. The online news publication shall maintain a designated publication address and employ recognized standards of professional journalism. The online news publication shall satisfy all of the foregoing requirements in this subsection for at least two consecutive years subsequent to the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), and immediately preceding the first publication of any official advertising, and shall continue thereafter to satisfy these requirements.
f. All official advertising published on njpublicnotices.com shall be available to the public free of charge.
g. With the exception of the requirement to display on its Internet website homepage a free, publicly-accessible hyperlink to njpublicnotices.com, a newspaper or online news publication shall not be required to publish, or be prohibited from publishing on its Internet website, mobile application, or other similar platform, any content that is also contained in its print newspaper or paid online content. Only material published in a print newspaper or paid online content is to be considered in determining whether a newspaper or online news publication is qualified to publish official advertising, as set forth in subsections a. through e. of this section.
(cf: P.L.1979, c.84, s.1)
5. R.S.35:2-1 is amended to read as follows:
35:2-1. a. As used in this section:
"Bona fide net paid subscribers" means the cumulative total of unduplicated print and online subscribers of any newspaper or online news publication.
"Character" means an alphanumeric character and any punctuation or other character, all of which have been requested by the advertiser, and shall not include letting, kerning, or spacing unless additional letting, kerning, or spacing is ordered by the advertiser at a cost agreed to in writing.
"Consumer Price Index" means the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island Metropolitan Area, All Items, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the United States Department of Labor. An adjustment to the rates shall be made only if the percent change in the Consumer Price Index for the previous calendar year is greater than zero and if the percent change, when applied to the rate and rounded to the nearest whole cent, provides for an increase of at least one-tenth of a cent. If the reference base of the index is changed, the index used to determine the Consumer Price Index shall be the index converted to the new base by standard statistical methods.
b. The price to be paid for publishing [all] a text-only notice of official advertising, as defined in R.S. 35:1-1, in [newspapers] a newspaper or an online news publication pursuant to R.S.35:1-2.1 and R.S.35:1-2.2 shall be as follows:
In [newspapers published in the State of New Jersey] a newspaper or an online news publication having [a] bona fide net paid [circulation] subscribers:
(1) of up to [2,500 copies] 10,000, the rate shall be [$0.25 per line] $0.030 per character for each insertion; [in the case of any newspaper having a bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 2,500 copies nor more than 5,000 copies,]
(2) between 10,001 and 30,000, the rate shall be [$0.31 per line] $0.035 per character for each insertion; [and in the case of any newspaper having a bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 5,000 copies and not more than 10,000 copies,]
(3) between 30,001 and 50,000, the rate shall be [$0.34 per line] $0.040 per character for each insertion; [and in the case of any newspaper having a bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 10,000 copies and not more than 30,000 copies,]
(4) between 50,001 and 100,000, the rate shall be [$0.35 per line] $0.045 per character for each insertion; and [in the case of any newspaper having a bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 30,000 and not more than 45,000 copies,]
(5) in excess of 100,000, the rate shall be [$0.36 per line] $0.050 per character for each insertion [; and in the case of any newspaper having a bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 45,000 copies and not more than 60,000 copies, the rate shall be $0.38 per line per insertion; and in the case of any newspaper having a bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 60,000 copies and not more than 75,000 copies, the rate shall be $0.44 per line per insertion; and in the case of any newspaper having bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 75,000 copies and of more than 100,000 copies, the rate shall be $0.60 per line per insertion; and in the case of any newspaper having a bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 100,000 copies, and not more than 125,000 copies, the rate shall be $0.66 per line per insertion; and in the case of any newspaper having a bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 125,000 copies, and not more than 150,000, the rate shall be $0.72 per line per insertion; and in the case of any newspaper having a bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 150,000 copies and not more than 200,000 copies, the rate shall be $0.82 per line per insertion; and in the case of newspapers having a bona fide net paid circulation of not less than 200,000 copies and not more than 300,000 copies, the rate shall be $0.91 per line per insertion; and in the case of any newspaper having a bona fide net paid circulation in excess of 300,000 copies the rate shall be $1.00 per line per insertion; but before any] .
Before a newspaper [can] or an online news publication may charge the foregoing rates, the publisher or business manager of [such] the newspaper [must] or online news publication shall file with the properly authorized officer of [every] the municipality, county or governing body, placing official advertising in [such] the newspaper or online news publication, an affidavit setting forth the average number of bona fide net paid [circulation] subscribers of [such] the newspaper or online news publication for the 12-month period ending September 30 next preceding and the rate to be charged for official advertising, which in no case shall be in excess of, or below, the rates provided in the foregoing schedule.
[Lines shall be calculated upon the basis of the space that a 6 point line, 8 picas wide would occupy.]
c. The price to be paid for publishing a tabular or prebuilt official advertisement, as defined in R.S.35:1-1, in a newspaper or an online news publication shall be as follows:
In a newspaper or an online news publication having a number of bona fide net paid subscribers:
(1) of up to 10,000, the rate shall be $3.50 per square inch for each insertion;
(2) between 10,001 and 30,000, the rate shall be $3.70 per square inch for each insertion;
(3) between 30,001 and 50,000, the rate shall be $3.90 per square inch for each insertion;
(4) between 50,001 and 100,000, the rate shall be $4.10 per square inch for each insertion; and
(5) in excess of 100,000, the rate shall be $4.30 per square inch for each insertion.
The rates set forth in this subsection shall be based on six-point type and six-point font. If the official advertisement is set in larger type or font, the rate shall be prorated. Regardless of the size of type in which the official advertisement is set, the rates specified in this subsection are based on a printable space of one-inch-high and one-inch-wide column. If the page width is either wider or narrower for a single column, the rate per column shall be prorated.
d. The State Treasurer, no later than April 1st of each year commencing in the year in which P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), is enacted, shall adjust the rates set forth in this section in direct proportion to the percent change in the Consumer Price Index during the previous calendar year. This adjustment shall become effective on July 1st of each year.
e. If the price calculated for publishing an official advertisement pursuant to this section does not end in a whole cent, the newspaper or online news publication shall round the amount calculated to the nearest whole cent which shall be the amount due to be paid for the publication.
(cf: P.L.1983, c.117, s.1)
6. R.S.40:53-1 is amended to read as follows:
40:53-1. The governing body of [every] a municipality may designate an official newspaper or [newspapers] online news publication, as set forth in R.S.35:1-2.2, for the publication of all advertisements and notices required by law to be published by the municipality.
(cf: R.S.40:53-1)
7. R.S.40:53-2 is amended to read as follows:
40:53-2. a. [All ordinances or other public notices which any municipality, except cities, may be required by any] A municipality, other than a city, shall publish each official advertisement that it is required by law to publish, where the manner of publication is not otherwise specifically provided for, [shall] until March 1, 2026 [be published] either in at least one newspaper [published and circulating in the municipality, and if there be no such newspaper, then in at least one newspaper published in the county in which the municipality is located and circulating in the municipality or consistent with section 2 of P.L.2025, c.72 (C.35:3-2)] or online news publication that satisfies the applicable requirements set forth in R.S.35:1-2.2, so long as the newspaper or online news publication regularly covers that municipality, including publication of news content created or produced by, or on behalf of, a newspaper or online news publication, or any parent, affiliate, or subsidiary thereof, which is also a newspaper or online news publication, about local government, the school board, and local sports and other local events, and which has provided regular coverage for a period of not less than two consecutive years immediately preceding the publication of its first official advertisement under this subsection.
b. [After March 1, 2026, all ordinances or other public notices which any municipality, except cities, may be required by any law to publish, where the manner of publication is not otherwise specifically provided for, shall be published consistent with section 2 of P.L.2025, c.72 (C.35:3-2).] (Deleted by amendment, P.L. , c. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)
c. If there is no newspaper or online news publication that meets the requirements of subsection a. of this section, then the municipality shall publish each official advertisement that it is required to publish in at least one newspaper or online news publication that meets the applicable requirements set forth in R.S.35:1-2.2, so long as the newspaper or online news publication maintains its designated publication address within the county in which the municipality is located for a period of not less than two consecutive years immediately preceding the publication of its first official advertisement under this subsection.
d. If there is no newspaper or online news publication that meets the requirements of subsections a. or c. of this section, then the municipality shall publish each official advertisement that it is required to publish in at least one newspaper or online news publication that meets the applicable requirements set forth in R.S. 35:1-2.2.
(cf: P.L.2025, c.72, s.6)
8. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
Under current law, public bodies are required to provide notice to newspapers 48 hours prior to holding a meeting to conduct official business, under certain circumstances. This bill amends the definition of "adequate notice" for a public meeting to allow public bodies to satisfy their meeting notice requirements by publishing the notice in newspapers that are published in part or in whole electronically via the Internet and on online news publications.
This bill also amends the definition of "newspaper" for the publication of all official notices and advertisements to allow the State or local bodies to publish in qualified or previously qualified newspapers that are now published electronically on the Internet and on online news publications.
The bill also adds definitions for "designated publication address," "news," "original, general news content," and "paid online content." The bill, further, amends and expands the definition of "official advertising," and applies the definition to other related terms as specified in the bill.
In cases where there is no qualified newspaper or online news publication, the State or local body (excluding a city) may publish each official advertisement that it is required to publish in at least one newspaper or online news publication that meets the requirements set forth in R.S.35:1-2.2, so long as the newspaper or online news publication maintains its designated publication address within the county in which the municipality is located for a period of not less than two consecutive years immediately preceding publication of its first official advertisement.
The bill establishes rates for publishing official advertising for newspapers and online news publications based on the number of bona fide net paid subscribers.
