SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3004

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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SENATE, March 9, 2026.

 The committee on Municipalities and Regional Government to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2894) of Cynthia Stone Creem, Greg Schwartz and John J. Lawn, Jr. (with approval of the mayor and city council) for legislation to authorize print-free digital legal notices in the city of Newton, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 3004).

For the committee,

 Rebecca L. Rausch

        FILED ON: 3/6/2026

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3004

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act authorizing print-free digital legal notices in the city of Newton.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

 SECTION 1. Notwithstanding subsection (b) of section 13 of Chapter 4 of the General Laws, wherever the city of Newton and their subdivisions, committees, boards, commissions, bodies, or officers are required by statute, ordinance, by-law, regulation or judicial order to publish a legal notice in a newspaper or newspaper of general circulation, such requirement may be met through two or more of the following means:

 (i) A print newspaper of local or general circulation;

 (ii) A newspaper's website;

 (iii) Websites reporting local news and opinion which satisfy all criteria for digital publication

 as set forth in said subsection (b) of said section 13 of chapter 4;

 (iv) A statewide website that may be maintained as a repository for such notices; or

 (v) A city-wide website that may be maintained as a repository for such notices.

 SECTION 2. Nothing set forth in this act shall be construed to alter or amend the time or timing of publication of legal notices set forth in the General Laws.

 SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.