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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to Internet posting of notice by governmental entities and |
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representatives as an alternative to newspaper publication of |
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notice. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 2051, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 2051.054 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2051.054. INTERNET PUBLICATION AUTHORIZED IN CERTAIN |
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CIRCUMSTANCES. (a) Notwithstanding any other law and except as |
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provided by Section 2051.042(b), a governmental entity or |
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representative may, as an alternative, satisfy a requirement to |
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provide notice by publication in a newspaper by posting the notice |
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on a third-party Internet website. |
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(b) A governmental entity or representative may publish a |
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notice on a third-party Internet website under this section only |
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if: |
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(1) the governing body of the governmental entity |
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finds, after holding a public hearing on the matter, that: |
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(A) Internet publication of notices is in the |
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public interest; |
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(B) Internet publication of notices will not, |
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after consideration of the level of Internet access in the |
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applicable area, unreasonably restrict public access to the |
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notices; and |
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(C) the cost of publishing the notices in a |
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newspaper exceeds the cost of Internet publication; |
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(2) the governmental entity or representative posts |
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the governing body's findings on the entity's or representative's |
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Internet website; and |
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(3) the governmental entity or representative also |
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prominently posts each notice for public review at the office |
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location of the governmental entity or representative that is the |
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most accessible to the intended recipients of the notice. |
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(c) A notice posted under this section must, to the extent |
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possible, meet the time, content, appearance, and other |
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requirements provided by law for the posting of the notice. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |