88R26372 MP-D
By: Shaheen, Cook H.B. No. 622
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 622:
By: Stucky C.S.H.B. No. 622
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the publication of required notice by certain political
subdivisions by alternative media.
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
this section.
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
notice:
(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
payment for access.
(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
searchable; and
(2) that a user is able to search the notices by:
(A) subject matter;
(B) the location required to be provided in the
notice under the other laws that require notice by publication in a
newspaper; and
(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):
(1) social media;
(2) free newspapers;
(3) school newspapers;
(4) a homeowners' association newsletter or magazine;
(5) utility bills;
(6) direct mailings; and
(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
includes:
(1) a list of the other laws requiring notice by
publication in a newspaper for which notice published under this
section is an alternative;
(2) a description of the alternative media used for
the notice; and
(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, 2023.