HB 1028

AN ACT relating to certain political subdivisions publishing required

House Bill Shaheen
Filed

Filed

Bill introduced by legislator

Committee

Hearing

Passed Cmte

Calendar

Passed

Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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Fiscal Note

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What This Bill Does

Allows small political subdivisions (with populations of 75,000 or less) without a local newspaper to publish required public notices through alternative media like websites, homeowners' association newsletters, or digital newsletters. Political subdivisions must hold a public meeting before changing their notice method and submit details about their alternative notice approach to the Attorney General. The goal is to provide flexible, accessible public notice options for rural or smaller communities where traditional newspaper publication may not be feasible.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to certain political subdivisions publishing required
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Chapter 2051, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter C-1 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER C-1.  NOTICE BY PUBLICATION IN MEDIA OTHER THAN
NEWSPAPER BY CERTAIN POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS
Sec. 2051.081.  APPLICABILITY.  This subchapter applies only
to a political subdivision with a population of 75,000 or less and
in which there is no newspaper of general circulation.  If no
population is specified for a political subdivision in the federal
decennial census, the population of the political subdivision is
the population determined by the attorney general for purposes of
Sec. 2051.082.  NOTICE BY ALTERNATIVE MEDIA.  (a)  A
political subdivision may satisfy a requirement in any other law to
provide notice by publication in a newspaper by publishing the
(1)  by media described by Subsection (d); and
(2)  for a continuous period of not less than two weeks
in a prominent location on an Internet website maintained by the
political subdivision that does not require user registration or
(b)  A political subdivision that publishes notice on an
Internet website under Subsection (a)(2) must ensure that:
(1)  the Internet website and the notices are
(2)  a user is able to search the notices by:
(B)  the location required to be provided in the
notice under the other laws that require notice by publication in a
(C)  both subject matter and location.
(c)  Before providing notice by an alternative method under
Subsection (a), a political subdivision must hold a public meeting
about the alternative notice method.
(d)  The following forms of media are authorized for
providing notice under Subsection (a)(1):
(4)  a homeowners' association newsletter or magazine;
(7)  a print or digital newsletter.
(e)  A political subdivision that provides notice using
alternative media under this section shall submit notice to the
attorney general describing the alternative notice method that
(1)  a list of the other laws requiring notice by
publication in a newspaper for which notice published under this
(2)  a description of the alternative media used for
(3)  a link to the Internet website maintained by the
political subdivision where the public notice will be posted.
(f)  After receipt of the notice under Subsection (e), the
attorney general shall promptly publish on the attorney general's
Internet website a list of political subdivisions that provide
notice as described by this subchapter.
Sec. 2051.083.  RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.  The attorney general
may adopt rules necessary to administer this subchapter.
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill Sponsors

Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to certain political subdivisions publishing required