88R694 SGM-D
 
  By: Bailes H.B. No. 657
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to Internet posting of notice by governmental entities and
  representatives as an alternative to newspaper publication of
  notice.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 2051, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 2051.054 to read as follows:
         Sec. 2051.054.  INTERNET PUBLICATION AUTHORIZED IN CERTAIN
  CIRCUMSTANCES. (a)  Notwithstanding any other law and except as
  provided by Section 2051.042(b), a governmental entity or
  representative may, as an alternative, satisfy a requirement to
  provide notice by publication in a newspaper by posting the notice
  on a third-party Internet website.
         (b)  A governmental entity or representative may publish a
  notice on a third-party Internet website under this section only
  if:
               (1)  the governing body of the governmental entity
  finds, after holding a public hearing on the matter, that:
                     (A)  Internet publication of notices is in the
  public interest;
                     (B)  Internet publication of notices will not,
  after consideration of the level of Internet access in the
  applicable area, unreasonably restrict public access to the
  notices; and
                     (C)  the cost of publishing the notices in a
  newspaper exceeds the cost of Internet publication;
               (2)  the governmental entity or representative posts
  the governing body's findings on the entity's or representative's
  Internet website; and
               (3)  the governmental entity or representative also
  prominently posts each notice for public review at the office
  location of the governmental entity or representative that is the
  most accessible to the intended recipients of the notice.
         (c)  A notice posted under this section must, to the extent
  possible, meet the time, content, appearance, and other
  requirements provided by law for the posting of the notice.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.