HB290 Alabama 2012 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Low Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Mike Hill
Republican
Co-Sponsor: Mac McCutcheon
Session: Regular Session 2012
Title: Legal notices, electronic publication of legal notices on Internet websites, authorized, statewide website, Secs. 6-8-60, 6-8-62, 6-8-64, 6-8-65 am'd.
Summary: HB290 would allow legal notices to be published electronically in addition to print, requiring newspapers with websites to post notices online and on a statewide online site at no extra charge, with protections for validity if posting fails and a cap on publication rates.
What This Bill Does
It authorizes electronic publication of legal notices and requires newspapers that maintain websites to publish notices online in addition to print, and to also post them on a statewide internet site. The online publication would be free for the government or the party requesting the notice, and a notice would remain valid even if posting fails due to fault by the newspaper, the internet provider, or the statewide site. The bill caps the price for public notices at the lowest classified rate paid by commercial customers for comparable ads in the same newspaper, including discounts. Notices must begin online on the first day of insertion and continue for the specified period, with the same affidavits and anti-corruption provisions still in place.

Who It Affects
Newspapers in Alabama that publish legal notices (they must post online if they have a website and also post to a statewide online repository; rates must align with the bill's provisions).
State and local government agencies or private parties who request legal notices (they would pay no extra charges for online publication).
Statewide internet notice host/entity (the repository that aggregates notices from newspapers; responsible for hosting and access).

Key Provisions
Amends sections 6-8-60, 6-8-62, 6-8-64, and 6-8-65 to authorize electronic publication of legal notices.
Requires newspapers with websites to publish legal notices online in addition to print and to post notices on a statewide website managed by an entity capable of receiving notices from most Alabama newspapers.
Online publication must be free for government or the party requesting the notice.
Notices remain valid if posting failure is due to the newspaper, internet provider, or statewide website fault.
Publication rates for public notices may not exceed the lowest classified rate paid by commercial customers for comparable ads in the same newspaper, including discounts.
Notices must be posted on both the newspaper’s own site (if applicable) and the statewide site starting from the first day of insertion and continuing for the specified period.
Affidavit provisions remain to prevent improper arrangements between officers and printers, and to confirm the charged rate is the lowest regular price for such notices.

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