North DakotaNorth Dakota law puts legal notices online and provides a backup when newspapers fail
North Dakota law requires online copies of legal notices and lets online posting fulfill the publication requirement when a newspaper fails to publish one.
What it does
When a law requires a newspaper to publish a legal notice, the newspaper also posts it on the statewide legal notices website and, if it has one, its own website. The public can view the postings for free, and the organization placing the notice pays no added cost.
If a newspaper fails to publish a required notice, posting it on the statewide legal notices website or the proper government unit’s website fulfills the requirement. A state agency may request immediate posting on the newspaper association’s website and receive written proof.
Argument forPeople may find required legal notices online, and online posting could satisfy the requirement if a newspaper fails to print one.
Argument againstA legally valid notice could still contain a small newspaper-caused website error, which may make details harder for readers to use.
More detail
A newspaper must also post a legally required notice on the statewide legal notices website and, if it has one, its own website. This applies when a law requires a legal notice to be published in a newspaper. The newspaper’s website posting must be open and free to the public. The organization placing the notice pays no added cost for the online posting. The posting is required when a legal notice must be published in a newspaper.
Online posting can fulfill the publication requirement if a newspaper fails to publish a required notice. This applies to a notice that a law requires to be published in a newspaper. A state agency may request immediate posting on the North Dakota newspaper association’s public notice website, and the association must provide an affidavit confirming the posting. A small website error does not affect the notice’s validity if the error resulted from posting the notice online and the newspaper is at fault. Online posting fulfills the publication requirement if the newspaper fails to publish the notice in print.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Apr 24Filed with Secretary Of State 04/23Latest
- Apr 23Signed by Governor Kelly Armstrong 04/22Became Law
- Apr 21Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- Apr 21Signed by President
- Apr 21Signed by Speaker
- Apr 16Second reading, passed, yeas 32 nays 15Major
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on SB 2069. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 16Concurred
- Apr 11Returned to Senate (12)
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on SB 2069. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 11Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 72 nays 17Passed House
- Apr 11Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
- Apr 10Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 11 0 2Minor
- Mar 14Committee Hearing 09:00
- Feb 21Introduced, first reading, referred Political Subdivisions CommitteeMinor
- Feb 20Received from Senate
- Feb 19Second reading, passed, yeas 25 nays 22Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on SB 2069. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 18Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
- Feb 14Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 9 7 0Minor
- Feb 3Rereferred to Appropriations
- Feb 3Amendment adopted
- Jan 31Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 6 0 0Minor
- Jan 9Committee Hearing 11:30
- Jan 7Introduced, first reading, referred State and Local Government CommitteeIntroduced
Government & Ethics