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HB 2191

Authorizing legal publications to be made on internet websites selected by the governing body of a city, county or school district.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Allows Kansas cities, counties, and school districts to publish legal notices online via an official site instead of newspapers, with timing, access, and archiving rules.

Died in Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 2191

Summary — HB 2191 (2025): Authorizing legal publications on official internet websites

Status: Introduced January 29, 2025; referred to Committee on Local Government. Fiscal Note issued March 3, 2025.

Main purpose

HB 2191 authorizes cities, counties and school districts in Kansas to designate an official “legal notice” website as an alternative to publishing statutorily required legal notices in a newspaper. When posted on a designated official site in accordance with the bill’s rules, a legal notice required by law is treated as having been published.

Key provisions

  • Creates authority for a city, county or board of education to designate, by resolution, a website as its official publication source (amends K.S.A. 64-101 and K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 10-120; repeals K.S.A. 12-1651).
  • Defines “legal notice” broadly as any notice, advertisement or publication that state law requires to be published in a newspaper.
  • Establishes publication rules for notices posted on an official website:
    • Notices must meet any statutorily required timing, date and recurrence requirements “as though” published in a newspaper.
    • Notices must be posted for each city, county or area required by law.
    • If law requires both newspaper and website publication, those dual requirements remain in effect.
  • Specifies minimum technical/content requirements for an official website:
    • The website must be maintained so only content approved by the governing body is displayed.
    • It must be publicly accessible (no password), free to the public, and clearly display/document the publication date for each notice.
  • Amends election/bond-notice statute (K.S.A. 10-120) to allow notice to be published on a county election office website; such notices must remain on the site until the day after the election if published online.
  • Procedural and recordkeeping requirements (e.g., publication dates) are included to mirror traditional newspaper publication practices.

Who is affected

  • Local governments (cities, counties, school districts): gain the option to publish legally required notices online, potentially reducing publication costs.
  • Newspapers and other print publishers: may experience reduced revenue for legal-publication services if local governments shift notices online.
  • State agencies: some costs shift (see fiscal note regarding Secretary of State reimbursements).
  • General public and notice recipients: will access required legal notices online; the bill requires free, public access and documentation of posting dates.

Fiscal impact (per Kansas Division of the Budget)

  • Secretary of State estimates reduced transfers from the State General Fund to its Information Services Fee Fund of approximately $50,000 beginning in FY 2026 due to publishing constitutional-amendment notices online rather than in newspapers.
  • Kansas State Board of Education: no direct fiscal effect to the agency; potential savings at the local (school district) level if they avoid newspaper fees.
  • Kansas Association of Counties: enactment could produce savings for some counties but amount not estimated.
  • League of Kansas Municipalities: indicates no fiscal effect on cities.

Procedural notes / timeline

  • Introduced: January 29, 2025.
  • Fiscal Note dated: March 3, 2025.
  • Committee activity: bill referred to Committee on Local Government; committee-level motions and calendar placements occurred in February–March 2025 (Do Pass recommendation noted March 12, 2025). Later re-referred to Rules Committee and legislative deadlines were extended (Rule 19(a) / re-referred to Rules Committee May 31, 2025).

Practical considerations

  • Local governments choosing to use an official website must ensure reliable posting, archiving, and public access to replicate protections historically provided by newspapers (notice reach, discoverability, archival record).
  • Newspapers may challenge revenue loss and public-notice reach arguments; the bill attempts to address access by requiring free, unprotected postings with visible publication dates.
  • Where law currently requires both newspaper and web publication, HB 2191 does not change that dual requirement.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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