By: Kolkhorst, et al. S.B. No. 943
 
  (Hunter)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to publication of notices by a governmental entity on the
  Internet websites of a newspaper and the Texas Press Association.
         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 OF NOTICES. (a)
  Subsections (b)(2) and (c) apply only if the Texas Press
  Association maintains an Internet website as a statewide repository
  of notices.
         (b)  A newspaper that publishes a notice shall, at no
  additional cost to the governmental entity placing the notice:
               (1)  publish the notice on one or more webpages on the
  newspaper's Internet website, if the newspaper maintains a website,
  that are:
                     (A)  clearly designated for notices; and
                     (B)  accessible to the public at no cost; and
               (2)  deliver the notice to the Texas Press Association
  for the association to publish on the association's Internet
  website described by Subsection (a).
         (c)  The Texas Press Association shall publish each notice it
  receives from a newspaper under Subsection (b)(2) on the
  association's Internet website described by Subsection (a). The
  association must ensure that the website:
               (1)  is accessible to the public at no cost;
               (2)  is updated as notices are received;
               (3)  is searchable and sortable by subject matter,
  location, and both subject matter and location; and
               (4)  offers an e-mail notification service to which a
  person may electronically subscribe to receive notifications that a
  notice has been published on the website and that allows the
  subscriber to limit the notifications by subject matter, location,
  or both subject matter and location.
         (d)  A person required to publish a notice on an Internet
  website under this section shall archive the notice on the website
  in its entirety, including the date the notice is published.
         (e)  The validity of a notice printed in a newspaper and
  published on an Internet website under this section is not affected
  if:
               (1)  there is an error in the notice published on the
  website; or
               (2)  publication of the notice on the website is
  temporarily prevented as the result of a technical issue with the
  website.
         SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a notice published on or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.