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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the publication of required notice by certain political |
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subdivisions by alternative media. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 2051, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter C-1 to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER C-1. NOTICE BY PUBLICATION IN MEDIA OTHER THAN |
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NEWSPAPER BY CERTAIN POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS |
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Sec. 2051.081. APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies only |
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to a political subdivision with a population of 75,000 or less and |
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in which there is no newspaper of general circulation. If no |
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population is specified for a political subdivision in the federal |
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decennial census, the population of the political subdivision is |
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the population determined by the attorney general for purposes of |
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this section. |
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Sec. 2051.082. NOTICE BY ALTERNATIVE MEDIA. (a) A |
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political subdivision may satisfy a requirement in any other law to |
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provide notice by publication in a newspaper by publishing the |
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notice: |
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(1) by media described by Subsection (d); and |
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(2) for a continuous period of not less than two weeks |
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in a prominent location on an Internet website maintained by the |
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political subdivision that does not require user registration or |
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payment for access. |
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(b) A political subdivision that publishes notice on an |
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Internet website under Subsection (a)(2) must ensure that: |
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(1) the Internet website and the notices are |
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searchable; and |
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(2) that a user is able to search the notices by: |
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(A) subject matter; |
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(B) the location required to be provided in the |
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notice under the other laws that require notice by publication in a |
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newspaper; and |
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(C) both subject matter and location. |
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(c) Before providing notice by an alternative method under |
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Subsection (a), a political subdivision must hold a public meeting |
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about the alternative notice method. |
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(d) The following forms of media are authorized for |
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providing notice under Subsection (a)(1): |
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(1) social media; |
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(2) free newspapers; |
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(3) school newspapers; |
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(4) a homeowners' association newsletter or magazine; |
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(5) utility bills; |
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(6) direct mailings; and |
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(7) a print or digital newsletter. |
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(e) A political subdivision that provides notice using |
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alternative media under this section shall submit notice to the |
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attorney general describing the alternative notice method that |
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includes: |
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(1) a list of the other laws requiring notice by |
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publication in a newspaper for which notice published under this |
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section is an alternative; |
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(2) a description of the alternative media used for |
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the notice; and |
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(3) a link to the Internet website maintained by the |
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political subdivision where the public notice will be posted. |
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(f) After receipt of the notice under Subsection (e), the |
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attorney general shall promptly publish on the attorney general's |
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Internet website a list of political subdivisions that provide |
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notice as described by this subchapter. |
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Sec. 2051.083. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. The attorney general |
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may adopt rules necessary to administer this subchapter. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |