Bill
A 5151
Extends eligibility for newspapers to publish required public notices through March 1, 2025, including electronic formats, with no viewing fees.
Note on bill identity
- The bill documents provided concern a law extending eligibility of newspapers to publish required public notices regardless of format. That content does not match the title you supplied (which refers to clinical trial transparency). This summary reflects the enacted text and legislative history in the documents (P.L.2024, c.106), not the unrelated clinical-trial title.
Summary — A5151 (P.L.2024, c.106): Extended eligibility for newspapers to publish required public notices regardless of format
Purpose and intent
- Temporarily allows newspapers that were used (or permitted to be used) during calendar year 2024 to continue to serve as outlets for required public notices and legal advertisements from January 1, 2025 through March 1, 2025 even if their publication is in electronic (digital) rather than solely print format. The intent is to provide a short-term transition period for public bodies and publishers with respect to required legal-publication rules.
Key provisions and changes
- Eligibility extension: Any newspaper that a person or a public body (as defined in section 3 of the Open Public Meetings Act, P.L.1975, c.231 (C.10:4-8)) utilized or was permitted to utilize from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 to comply with requirements for issuing or publishing public notices or legal advertisements is deemed eligible to perform the same function from January 1, 2025 to March 1, 2025 if the newspaper’s publication is in print or electronic format.
- Covered uses: The provision applies to public notices and legal advertisements including, but not limited to, adequate notice of meetings, solicitation of bids/qualifications/proposals, and publication of ordinances, synopses, or summaries of official documents.
- Price limitations: The price charged for publishing notices under this provision may not exceed the rates established under R.S.35:2-1.
- Free access to electronic notices: No fee may be charged, and no registration required, for viewing public notices or legal advertisements published in electronic format.
- Definitions: “Electronic format” is defined broadly to include Internet websites and other technology (electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities) operated by or for a newspaper for publication.
- Effective date: The act took effect immediately upon approval (approved December 31, 2024).
Who is affected
- Public bodies (municipalities and other entities subject to the Open Public Meetings Act) and private persons who were using certain newspapers in 2024 for legal/public-notice purposes.
- Newspapers and news publishers that had been designated, used, or permitted for legal notices in 2024 — including those publishing digitally — benefit by maintaining eligibility into early 2025.
- The public: continues to have access to required notices with a statutory prohibition on fees/registration for viewing electronic notices.
Procedural and timeline notes
- Initially introduced and reported with amendments by the Assembly Appropriations Committee (reported 12/16/2024).
- Passed Assembly 12/19/2024 (49-19-1) and Senate 12/19/2024 (36-0).
- Approved as P.L.2024, c.106 on December 31, 2024; the law took immediate effect.
- Committee amendments expanded covered publishers (persons as well as public bodies), broadened covered notice types, added the price cap language, defined “electronic format,” and prohibited fees/registration for electronic viewing.
Sponsor and related legislation
- Sponsor: Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages (primary); bill co-sponsors listed in committee reports include several other Assembly members.
- Related/companion bills: S3957 and S1755 (companions); prior-session bills A8197, A9331.
Fiscal impact
- The Assembly Appropriations Committee reported the bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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