Bill Text: TX HB657 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to Internet posting of notice by governmental entities and representatives as an alternative to newspaper publication of notice.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-23 - Referred to State Affairs [HB657 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB657-Introduced.html

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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.