State law requires local governments and school districts to publish public notices in print newspapers of general circulation, giving residents a chance to know what their elected representatives are doing. State Rep. Robert Freeman (D-136), of Northampton County, plans to introduce legislation that would update the nearly 50-year-old Newspaper Advertising Act by expanding the definition of “newspaper of general circulation” to address technological changes in the newspaper industry. Under the bill, a “digital newspaper” would be an online newspaper formatted similarly to a printed newspaper that meets specific legal criteria regarding its purpose and its ties to the community, or be a digital descendant of a printed newspaper. A “free newspaper” would be acceptable, but it also has to fit certain statutory criteria regarding its content. Print and free newspapers would also have to maintain a website and post public notices online at the same time and in front of a paywall. Newspapers would be required to post public notices on a statewide, publicly accessible website maintained by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association.
Source: Reading Eagle; 2/27/2025