Honorable Cecil Bell, Chair, House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1080 by Curry (Relating to the publication of required notice by a political subdivision by alternative media.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1080, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($540,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2026
($270,000)
2027
($270,000)
2028
($270,000)
2029
($270,000)
2030
($270,000)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2025
2026
($270,000)
2.0
2027
($270,000)
2.0
2028
($270,000)
2.0
2029
($270,000)
2.0
2030
($270,000)
2.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would authorize political subdivisions to satisfy legal requirements to provide notice by newspaper publication, instead by publishing the notice through alternative media and on the websites of the political subdivision and the Comptroller. The subdivision would be required to provide notice to the comptroller describing the alternative method, and the Comptroller would promptly publish the notice on the Comptroller's website, or else provide a written notice requiring the subdivision to publish the notice by newspaper. The Comptroller could grant a waiver from web publication if Internet access is limited in the political subdivision.
The bill would require the Comptroller to prepare a biennial report that identifies and compares the effectiveness of different methods of notice publication used by subdivisions.
The Comptroller could adopt rules necessary to administer this subchapter.
Methodology
It is assumed that the Comptroller would require 2.0 additional FTEs as follows to implement the legislation: 1.0 Attorney V to prepare rules, advise on discrepancies, implementation issues and provide ongoing legal assistance, and 1.0 Program Specialist IV to receive, verify, and ensure updates of notices received from political subdivisions are established. The total cost for the 2.0 FTEs would be $270,000 per fiscal year.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.