HB268 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Hill

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Legal notices, electronic publication of legal notices on Internet websites, authorized, statewide website, Secs. 6-8-60, 6-8-62, 6-8-64 am'd.

Summary

HB268 would require legal notices to be published in print and online (on both newspaper websites and a statewide Internet site), with free online publication and protections for notice validity.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill authorizes electronic publication of legal notices and requires newspapers to publish notices on their own websites and on a statewide website, at no charge to the government or the requester. It also protects the notice's validity if posting fails due to fault by the newspaper, an Internet provider, or the statewide site, and changes the mailing classification for newspapers publishing notices from second-class to publication-class. Additionally, it specifies that online notices begin with the first insertion and run until expiration, and sets rate rules that apply to all legal notices unless a local law prescribes a different rate.

Who It Affects

• Newspapers in Alabama that publish legal notices: must publish online in addition to print, upload to the statewide website, may be required to post on their own websites, and must follow new rate and mailing-class rules.
• Government agencies and private parties requesting notices: online publication is free, notices remain valid if online posting has faults caused by third parties, and they access a statewide repository of notices.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes electronic publication of legal notices and requires newspapers to publish notices on their own websites and on a statewide Internet website when available.
• Publication on Internet sites is at no charge to the government or the party requesting publication.
• Notice remains valid if failure to post online is due to fault of the newspaper, Internet provider, or statewide website.
• Requires newspapers to upload legal notices to a statewide website and, if the newspaper maintains its own site, to post there as well, at no extra charge.
• Mandates that newspapers may not charge more than current rates for legal notices; tabular matter must use nationally published rate; local laws may set different rates.
• Changes mailing status to publication-class for the purpose of publishing legal notices.
• Online posting begins with the first day of insertion and continues until the notice expires, and is considered equivalent for validity purposes in case of posting errors.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Notice, Legal