HB128 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Andrew SorrellAuditor

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Public notices, to provide for electronic publication on a public notice website, Legal Notice Savings and Modernization Act, Secs. 6-8-64, 17-4-1 am'd.

Summary

HB 128 would shift public notices from newspapers to a free, searchable online public notice website run by the Secretary of State, with opt-out options for counties and municipalities.

What This Bill Does

The bill requires the Secretary of State to create and operate a statewide public notice website where notices with legal effect can be published and searched, with free public access and archived records. It allows a publication fee up to $50 to cover actual costs, but no other usage fees for the public. Counties and municipalities can vote to opt out if the online site would not provide adequate notice, in which case notices would continue to be published in newspapers until they vote otherwise; notices must be delivered to the Secretary of State for online publication, and local notices about legislation would be searchable by various criteria on the site.

Who It Affects

• General public and residents of Alabama who would access public notices online for free, with enhanced searchability and archival access, though opt-out by local governments could keep notices in newspapers in some areas.
• Counties, municipalities, and newspaper publishers who must deliver notices to the Secretary of State for online publication, may charge up to $50 to cover publication costs, and have the option to opt out of online publication if deemed insufficient for their audience.

Key Provisions

• Secretary of State must create, maintain, and operate a public notice website (or contract for it) with free 24/7 public access and full searchability of current and archived notices, including local legislation by sponsor, subject matter, and county.
• Public notices may be posted online with legal effect starting October 1, 2021; counties or municipalities can opt out by majority vote if online publication would not provide adequate notice, continuing newspaper notices until such vote.
• The Secretary of State may charge a reasonable fee (not to exceed $50) to the parties posting notices to cover actual publication costs; no other usage fees for the public.
• Newspapers must forward notices to the Secretary of State for statewide online publication, and the total charge includes print, newspaper website (if any), and statewide website publication.
• Public notice changes require counties and municipalities to publish notices informing the public about internet publication changes by September 1, 2020; if no newspaper, notices may be posted in public places.
• Rates for public notices follow the lowest classified rate paid by commercial customers for similar ads in the same newspapers, and local laws may set different rates where applicable.
• Local voter registration lists must be published on the statewide website or in a newspaper, with timeframes for corrections and supplements, and lists must be forwarded to the Secretary of State.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Public Notices