What's happening
The bill allows legally required public notices to be published online in a newspaper’s official website legal notice section.
Why it matters
Expands Access to Public Notices. By allowing legally required notices to be published online, the bill acknowledges that many people now get information digitally rather than through print, potentially making public information more accessible and timely for a broader audience.
Modernizes Legal Definitions. Updating the definition of "newspaper" to include a newspaper’s official website ensures that existing laws keep pace with changing technology and media consumption habits, which could help prevent legal challenges based on outdated definitions.
Potential Cost Savings and Efficiency. Local governments, agencies, and others who must publish legal notices might benefit from reduced costs and logistical hurdles associated with print publication, streamlining compliance with public notice requirements.
Raises Questions About Digital Divide. While online publication can enhance access for many, it may disadvantage individuals without reliable internet access or digital literacy, raising concerns about equitable access to critical public information.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Online Legal Notices
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
238
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. MAGNARELLI -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the general construction law, in relation to the meaning of the term "newspaper" for the purposes of publishing certain notices required by law
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision c of section 60 of the general construction law, as added by chapter 767 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
c. The term "newspaper of a county, city, town or village" when used in a statute shall mean a newspaper published, circulated, printed or distributed in the county, city, town or village. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, in any case in which notice of any fact is required by law to be published by or advertised in a newspaper, the term "newspaper of a county, city, town or village" shall include, in addition to its physical publication, any legal notice section maintained by such newspaper or by one of its corporate subsidiaries on the newspaper's website. Notice of any fact required by law to be published in a newspaper will be deemed sufficient if published in the form and for the duration required by law in such legal notice section of a newspaper's website.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00818-01-5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.