S2894 • 2025

An Act authorizing print-free digital legal notices in the city of Newton

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: Creem, Cynthia Stone
Last action: 2026-03-09
Official status: Accompanied a new draft, see S3004
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 authorizing print-free digital legal notices in the city of Newton

An Act authorizing print-free digital legal notices in the city of Newton By Ms.

What This Bill Does

An Act authorizing print-free digital legal notices in the city of Newton By Ms.
Creem and Mr.
Schwartz of Newton, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No.
2894) of Cynthia Stone Creem, Greg Schwartz and John J.

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

2026-03-09 Senate
Accompanied a new draft, see S3004
2026-03-03 Joint
Hearing rescheduled to 03/03/2026 from 01:00 PM-01:30 PM in 222 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time
2026-02-26 Senate
Reporting date extended to Tuesday March 31, 2026
2026-02-12 Joint
Hearing scheduled for 03/03/2026 from 01:00 PM-03:00 PM in 222
2025-12-24 House
House concurred
2025-12-22 Senate
Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Official Summary Text

An Act authorizing print-free digital legal notices in the city of Newton
By Ms. Creem and Mr. Schwartz of Newton, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2894) of Cynthia Stone Creem, Greg Schwartz and John J. Lawn, Jr. (with approval of the mayor and city council) for legislation to authorize print-free digital legal notices in the city of Newton. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Bill S.2894

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding subsection (b) of section 13 of Chapter 4 of the General Laws, wherever the city of Newton and their subdivisions, committees, boards, commissions, bodies, or officers are required by statute, ordinance, by-law, regulation or judicial order to publish a legal notice in a newspaper or newspaper of general circulation, such requirement may be met through one or more of the following means:

(i) A print newspaper of local or general circulation;

(ii) A newspaper's website;

(iii) Websites reporting local news and opinion which satisfy all criteria for digital publication

as set forth in said subsection (b) of said section 13 of chapter 4;

(iv) A statewide website that may be maintained as a repository for such notices; or

(v) A city-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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