MassachusettsWellesley could use print or websites for required legal notices
If passed, Wellesley officials could use several newspaper and online outlets to publish legally required notices, while keeping the deadlines set by existing rules.
What it does
If passed, Wellesley town bodies could meet required legal-notice rules through newspaper print or websites, including qualifying local news sites and state or town notice websites, with public-body approval or the posting officer’s discretion. Existing notice deadlines would stay the same.
Argument forIf Wellesley maintains them, townwide or statewide notice websites could give residents another online place to find legally required announcements.
Argument againstResidents might need to check different newspapers or websites because officials could choose among several places to publish each notice.
More detail
If passed, Wellesley could publish required legal notices through one or more permitted print or online channels. It applies to Wellesley and its subdivisions, committees, boards, commissions, and officers when a law, local rule, or court order requires a legal notice. A majority vote of the public body responsible for the notice must approve the method, or the municipal officer responsible for posting it may choose the method. Permitted channels include print newspapers, newspaper websites, local news websites that meet state publication rules, and statewide or townwide notice websites. If passed, the act would take effect upon passage. It would not change existing deadlines for publishing notices.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Oct 8See H4138Latest
- Oct 8New text (Creem) for H4138Introduced
Government & EthicsCriminal JusticePublic Safety