Nj state senate approves bill allowing online public meeting notices, shifting away from print ads

TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey State Senate on Thursday passed a bill permitting municipalities to publish public meeting notices and legal advertisements online, marking a significant shift from decades of mandated advertising in print newspapers.

The legislation, Senate Bill 3957, cleared the Senate with a 36-0 vote, with four members not voting. It aims to provide local governments with a more cost-effective way of notifying the public by embracing digital platforms, while maintaining transparency requirements.

Although government agencies have lobbied for decades to remove the print newspaper advertising mandate, their efforts were often blocked by print media legal blitzes to protect their revenue. Last year, after New Jersey’s largest newspaper company, Advance Media announced the dissolution in 2025 of major newspapers, including the Star-Ledger, it became necessary for the legislature to move on the issue.

Under the bill, public bodies will be allowed to use electronic formats for publishing meeting notices, bid solicitations, ordinances, and other legal advertisements. To ensure accessibility, the bill prohibits websites hosting the notices from charging fees or requiring registration to view them.

“This bill offers municipalities an updated and less burdensome method to comply with public notice requirements,” the Senate Judiciary Committee noted in its December 16 statement accompanying the amended legislation. The amendments also clarify pricing limits for online publications, ensuring costs do not exceed those allowed for traditional print ads under existing law.

The new policy will take effect on January 1, 2025, following a transitional period for compliance by municipalities and newspapers. Print formats will remain valid through early 2025, offering flexibility for communities adjusting to the change.

New Jersey’s move reflects the growing reliance on digital platforms for public communication as traditional print newspapers face declining circulation and increasing operational costs.

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