S.B. No. 943
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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 943 passed the Senate on
April 27, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 943 passed the House on
May 12, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 1, two
present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor