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AN ACT
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relating to publication of notices by a governmental entity on the |
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Internet websites of a newspaper and the Texas Press Association. |
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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 OF NOTICES. (a) |
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Subsections (b)(2) and (c) apply only if the Texas Press |
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Association maintains an Internet website as a statewide repository |
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of notices. |
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(b) A newspaper that publishes a notice shall, at no |
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additional cost to the governmental entity placing the notice: |
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(1) publish the notice on one or more webpages on the |
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newspaper's Internet website, if the newspaper maintains a website, |
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that are: |
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(A) clearly designated for notices; and |
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(B) accessible to the public at no cost; and |
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(2) deliver the notice to the Texas Press Association |
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for the association to publish on the association's Internet |
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website described by Subsection (a). |
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(c) The Texas Press Association shall publish each notice it |
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receives from a newspaper under Subsection (b)(2) on the |
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association's Internet website described by Subsection (a). The |
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association must ensure that the website: |
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(1) is accessible to the public at no cost; |
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(2) is updated as notices are received; |
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(3) is searchable and sortable by subject matter, |
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location, and both subject matter and location; and |
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(4) offers an e-mail notification service to which a |
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person may electronically subscribe to receive notifications that a |
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notice has been published on the website and that allows the |
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subscriber to limit the notifications by subject matter, location, |
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or both subject matter and location. |
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(d) A person required to publish a notice on an Internet |
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website under this section shall archive the notice on the website |
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in its entirety, including the date the notice is published. |
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(e) The validity of a notice printed in a newspaper and |
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published on an Internet website under this section is not affected |
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if: |
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(1) there is an error in the notice published on the |
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website; or |
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(2) publication of the notice on the website is |
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temporarily prevented as the result of a technical issue with the |
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website. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a notice published on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 943 passed the Senate on |
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April 27, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 943 passed the House on |
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May 12, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 1, two |
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present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |