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Bill

S 4136

Makes provisions regarding the designation of early voting polling places on college campuses

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Gianaris and 7 co-sponsors

Extends temporary use of eligible newspapers for public notices through mid-2025 and requires notice publishers to report circulation, pricing, and web data to the state.

REFERRED TO ELECTIONS
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Bill Summary · S 4136

Summary — S.4136 (P.L.2025, c.22)

Status: Enacted (Approved February 28, 2025)
Introduced: February 13, 2025 — Referred to Elections; reported by Senate Judiciary Committee with amendments (Feb. 20, 2025); passed both houses and signed into law as P.L.2025, c.22.

Purpose

S.4136 temporarily extends the period during which public bodies may use certain newspapers (including their electronic editions) to satisfy statutory public notice and legal-advertising requirements, and requires those newspapers/online publications that provide public‑notice services to submit specified circulation, pricing, billing, and web‑traffic data to state officials.

Key provisions

  • Extension of eligibility
    • Newspapers that were utilized (or permitted to be utilized) by a person or public body between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024 to publish required public notices or legal advertisements are deemed eligible to continue serving that purpose from January 1, 2025 through June 30, 2025.
    • This applies regardless of whether the newspaper’s publication is in print or in an electronic format (defined to include internet websites and similar digital technologies).
  • Price and access limitations
    • The price public bodies pay to publish notices or legal advertisements (print or electronic) may not exceed the rates established under R.S.35:2-1.
    • No fee or registration may be required to view public notices or legal advertisements published in electronic format.
  • Data submission requirement
    • Within 30 days of the law’s effective date, any newspaper or online news publication that provides public‑notice/legal‑advertising services to a public body must submit specified data to the Governor and the Legislative Services Commission (via the Office of Public Information). Required information includes:
    • Number of paid digital subscriptions (by each public body);
    • Number of unpaid digital or print subscriptions (by each public body);
    • Number of newspapers sold each day by retailers;
    • Amounts billed for publication of public notices/legal ads in print or electronic format for 2020–2024 (by each public body);
    • Average retail price of digital and print subscriptions;
    • Number of daily page views for the webpage where notices/ads are published (from Jan. 1, 2024 through the law’s effective date);
    • Any other information requested by the Legislative Services Commission within its deadlines.
  • Effective date
    • The act takes effect immediately upon approval.

Who is affected

  • Public bodies (municipalities, boards, agencies, etc.) that must publish legally required notices — they are authorized to continue using qualifying newspapers (print or digital) through June 30, 2025.
  • Newspapers and online news publications that provide public‑notice/legal‑advertising services — they must supply circulation, billing, pricing, and web‑traffic data to the state.
  • Members of the public — electronic access to published notices must be free and not require registration.

Potential impact / intent

  • Provides a temporary continuity mechanism for where legally required notices may be published while the state gathers data on readership, pricing, and online access to inform future policy on public‑notice publication.
  • Aims to preserve notice accessibility (including free online viewing) and to cap costs for public bodies consistent with existing statutory rate limits.
  • The submitted data will enable the Legislative Services Commission and executive branch to evaluate the marketplace and public access to notices before making longer‑term changes.

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

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