H5578 • 2025

An Act allowing print-free digital legal notices for the town of Topsfield

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Sponsor: Kassner, Kristin E.
Last action: 2026-07-13
Official status: Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act allowing print-free digital legal notices for the town of Topsfield

An Act allowing print-free digital legal notices for the town of Topsfield By Representatives Kassner of Hamilton and Kerans of Danvers, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

An Act allowing print-free digital legal notices for the town of Topsfield By Representatives Kassner of Hamilton and Kerans of Danvers, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
5578) of Kristin E.
Kassner and Sally P.
Kerans (by vote of the town) for legislation to authorize print-free digital legal notices in the town of Topsfield.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-07-13 House
Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Official Summary Text

An Act allowing print-free digital legal notices for the town of Topsfield
By Representatives Kassner of Hamilton and Kerans of Danvers, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5578) of Kristin E. Kassner and Sally P. Kerans (by vote of the town) for legislation to authorize print-free digital legal notices in the town of Topsfield. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Bill H.5578

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding subsection (b) of section 13 of chapter 4 of the General Laws, wherever the town of Topsfield or its committees, boards, commissions, departments or offices, are required by general or special law, by-law or judicial order to publish a legal notice in a newspaper or newspaper of general circulation, such requirement may be met through posting or publishing such notice in any of the following ways:

(i)

print newspaper of local or general circulation;

(ii)

newspaper website;

(iii)

website reporting local news and opinions which satisfy all criteria for digital publication as established in said subsection (c) of said section 13 of said chapter 4;

(iv)

statewide website that may be maintained as a repository for such notices; or

(v)

town-wide website that may be maintained as a repository for such notices.

SECTION 2. Nothing set forth in this act shall be construed to alter or amend the time or timing of publication of legal notices set forth in the General Laws.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

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