TRENTON, N.J. — Let’s face it, nobody reads the local newspapers anymore and state law is about to adjust that shift in how society consumes information and news.
A bipartisan bill moving through the New Jersey Legislature aims to modernize how legal notices are published, allowing public entities to post required announcements directly on their official websites instead of relying solely on newspapers.
Beginning March 1, 2026, the bill would make it mandatory for all public entities to publish legal notices on their websites, though the option is available immediately for those wishing to implement it early. Each entity’s website must provide free public access, with a conspicuous hyperlink to its legal notices page on the homepage.
The legislation defines “public entity” broadly, encompassing local and state government units, school districts, authorities, and other public bodies. The change is designed to increase accessibility, reduce publishing costs, and streamline the legal notification process across government levels.
The Secretary of State would be responsible for creating a centralized webpage featuring hyperlinks to the legal notices sections of each public entity. This statewide portal would also be publicly accessible and free of charge, with its own prominently placed homepage link.
Archiving, online news options included in new framework
Under the bill, legal notices must remain on a public entity’s website for at least one week or longer if required by law. They must then be moved to an online archive, to be maintained for at least one year. However, local governments are not obligated to maintain such an archive until July 1, 2026.
Public entities may also publish notices on eligible online news publications, and the bill defines specific eligibility criteria such as frequency of publication and availability to a general audience. These provisions extend to corporations, individuals, or other entities that are not government bodies but are required by law or court order to publish legal notices.
From January 1, 2026 through March 1, 2026, public entities must publish a notice twice per month in eligible online news publications informing the public where to find complete legal notice texts online. This includes the web address of the Secretary of State’s centralized portal.
The bill also addresses the current legal use of newspapers for publishing public notices. It amends existing law to allow public bodies to continue using qualified newspapers—whether print or electronic—through March 1, 2026.
The legislation takes effect immediately, giving public entities time to prepare for full implementation by the March 2026 deadline.
New Jersey’s proposed public notice overhaul would bring legal transparency into the digital era by requiring all notices to be posted online by 2026.
