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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 144 PRINTER'S NO. 933
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 194
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY MASTRIANO, PHILLIPS-HILL, PENNYCUICK, BROWN, YAW
AND LAUGHLIN, JANUARY 29, 2025
SENATOR KEEFER, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AS AMENDED, JUNE 10, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 45 (Legal Notices) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in legal advertising, providing for
methods for advertising.
AMENDING TITLES 45 (LEGAL NOTICES) AND 65 (PUBLIC OFFICERS) OF
THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED STATUTES, IN PRELIMINARY
PROVISIONS, FURTHER PROVIDING FOR DEFINITIONS; IN LEGAL
ADVERTISING, FURTHER PROVIDING FOR USE OF TRADE PUBLICATIONS
AND PROVIDING FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT ADVERTISING
REQUIREMENTS; AND, IN OPEN MEETINGS, FURTHER PROVIDING FOR
DEFINITIONS.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 45 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 311. Methods for advertising.
(a) Advertisement or notice requirements.--Notwithstanding
the provisions of this title or any law or regulation to the
contrary, when an advertisement or notice is required by law,
rule or regulation, a local government unit shall satisfy the
requirement by using one of the following methods:
(1) a newspaper as defined in section 101 (relating to
definitions), printed or circulated generally in the county
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in which the local government unit is located;
(2) the local government unit's publicly accessible
Internet website; or
(3) the publicly accessible Internet website of a
newspaper listed in paragraph (1) or any other publicly
accessible Internet website that has the primary purpose of
posting advertisements or notices.
(b) Legal journal requirement.--Use by a local government
unit of a method specified in subsection (a) to satisfy the
requirement to publish an advertisement or notice required by
law, rule or regulation does not relieve the local government
unit of the duty to publish in a legal journal if otherwise
required to by section 308 (relating to additional publication
in legal journals) or other provision of law.
(c) Requirements for advertisements.--Use by a local
government unit of a method specified in subsection (a)(2) or
(3) to satisfy the requirement to publish an advertisement or
notice required by law, rule or regulation shall also require a
local government unit to do the following:
(1) Post a copy of each advertisement or notice
prominently at the principal office of the local government
unit or at the public building in which the local government
unit meets. If an advertisement or notice is unable to be
posted at the principal office of the local government unit
or at the public building in which the local government unit
meets, the county in which the local government unit is
located shall provide space for the postings where the local
government unit is responsible for posting its advertisements
or notices.
(2) Adopt a resolution declaring the local government
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unit's intent to use one or more of the methods in subsection
(a)(2) or (3) to satisfy the requirement to publish an
advertisement or notice required by law, rule or regulation
prior to utilizing one of those methods. If the methods of
advertising are revised or updated, the local government unit
shall declare its intent by a new resolution and specifically
identify the new methods of advertising. Following adoption
of a resolution under this paragraph and prior to publishing
an advertisement or notice using the methods specified in
subsection (a)(2) or (3), the local government unit shall
publish notice in all methods of advertising utilized
immediately prior to adopting the resolution , announcing that
advertisements and notices shall be made public using the
alternative methods selected by the local government unit.
(3) Retain a copy of the advertisement or notice for no
less than three years.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
SECTION 1. THE DEFINITION OF "PUBLICATION" IN SECTION 101(A)
OF TITLE 45 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED STATUTES IS AMENDED
AND THE SUBSECTION IS AMENDED BY ADDING DEFINITIONS TO READ:
§ 101. DEFINITIONS.
(A) DEFINITIONS APPLICABLE TO PRINTING OR NEWSPAPER
ADVERTISING LAWS.--SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS CONTAINED
IN SUBSEQUENT PROVISIONS OF THIS TITLE WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO
SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF THIS TITLE, THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND
PHRASES WHEN USED IN:
(1) THIS TITLE; OR
(2) ANY OTHER LAW RELATING TO PRINTING OR NEWSPAPER
ADVERTISING;
SHALL HAVE, UNLESS THE CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE, THE
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MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SUBSECTION:
* * *
"ALTERNATIVE PUBLICATION METHOD." A METHOD OF ADVERTISING OR
PUBLIC NOTICE THAT INCLUDES PUBLICATION ON A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE
INTERNET WEBSITE OF A COUNTY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT OR A LINK
ON A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INTERNET WEBSITE OF A COUNTY AND A
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT THAT CONNECTS TO THE PUBLIC NOTICE AND
PHYSICAL POSTING AT A DESIGNATED PUBLIC LOCATION, AS AUTHORIZED
UNDER SECTION 311 (RELATING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT ADVERTISING
REQUIREMENTS).
* * *
"LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT." A COUNTY, CITY, BOROUGH,
INCORPORATED TOWN, TOWNSHIP, SCHOOL DISTRICT, MUNICIPAL
AUTHORITY OR ANY ENTITY GOVERNED BY A HOME RULE CHARTER,
OPTIONAL PLAN OR OPTIONAL CHARTER UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS
COMMONWEALTH.
* * *
"PUBLICATION."
(1) THE ACT OF PRINTING A NOTICE, ADVERTISEMENT, OR
PROCLAMATION, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISSEMINATING INFORMATION TO
THE PEOPLE AT LARGE.
(2) A JOURNAL, MAGAZINE, NEWSPAPER, CLASS NEWSPAPER OR
PERIODICAL.
(3) AN ALTERNATIVE PUBLICATION METHOD.
* * *
SECTION 2. SECTION 306 OF TITLE 45 IS AMENDED BY ADDING A
SUBSECTION TO READ:
§ 306. USE OF TRADE PUBLICATIONS.
* * *
(C) LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT.--NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER
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PROVISION OF THIS SECTION, A LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT MAY SATISFY
LEGAL PUBLICATION REQUIREMENTS TO ADVERTISE FOR BIDS FOR PUBLIC
WORKS, CONTRACTS, SUPPLIES OR EQUIPMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION 311 (RELATING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT ADVERTISING
REQUIREMENTS).
SECTION 3. TITLE 45 IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SECTION TO READ:
§ 311. LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT ADVERTISING REQUIREMENTS.
(A) ADVERTISEMENT OR NOTICE REQUIREMENTS.--IF AN
ADVERTISEMENT OR NOTICE IS REQUIRED TO BE PUBLISHED BY THIS
TITLE OR OTHER STATUTE, A LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT SHALL FULFILL
THE REQUIREMENT BY USING ONE OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS:
(1) NEWSPAPER.
(2) (I) PUBLICATION ON THE OFFICIAL PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE
INTERNET WEBSITE OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT UNIT IS LOCATED.
(II) PUBLICATION ON THE OFFICIAL PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE
INTERNET WEBSITE OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT, IF
PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INTERNET WEBSITES EXIST.
(III) PHYSICAL POSTING OF A COPY OF THE
ADVERTISEMENT OR NOTICE AT:
(A) THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
UNIT; AND
(B) THE PUBLIC BUILDING IN WHICH THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT UNIT REGULARLY CONDUCTS PUBLIC MEETINGS.
(B) EXCEPTION.--IF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT DOES NOT OPERATE
OR MAINTAIN ITS OWN OFFICIAL PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INTERNET
WEBSITE, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT SHALL SATISFY THE
REQUIREMENTS OF SUBSECTION (A) BY DOING EACH OF THE FOLLOWING:
(1) PUBLISHING THE ADVERTISEMENT OR NOTICE ON THE
OFFICIAL PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INTERNET WEBSITE OF THE COUNTY
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IN WHICH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT IS LOCATED.
(2) PUBLISHING THE ADVERTISEMENT OR NOTICE IN A
NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION WITHIN THE COUNTY OR LOCAL
GOVERNMENT UNIT.
(3) POSTING A PHYSICAL COPY OF THE ADVERTISEMENT OR
NOTICE AT:
(I) THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
UNIT; AND
(II) THE PUBLIC BUILDING IN WHICH THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT UNIT REGULARLY CONDUCTS PUBLIC MEETINGS.
(C) RETENTION OF RECORDS.--EACH LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT SHALL
RETAIN A COPY OF EACH ADVERTISEMENT OR NOTICE, BOTH PHYSICALLY
AND ELECTRONICALLY, FOR A PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN THREE YEARS.
(D) CONSTRUCTION.--NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE
CONSTRUED TO ELIMINATE THE OBLIGATION TO PUBLISH IN A LEGAL
JOURNAL IF THE PUBLICATION IS REQUIRED UNDER THIS TITLE OR ANY
OTHER LAW.
SECTION 4. THE DEFINITION OF "PUBLIC NOTICE" IN SECTION 703
OF TITLE 65 IS AMENDED TO READ:
§ 703. DEFINITIONS.
THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES WHEN USED IN THIS CHAPTER
SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SECTION UNLESS THE
CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:
* * *
"PUBLIC NOTICE."
(1) FOR A MEETING:
(I) PUBLICATION OF NOTICE OF THE PLACE, DATE AND
TIME OF A MEETING IN A NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION[,
AS DEFINED BY 45 PA.C.S. § 101 (RELATING TO
DEFINITIONS),] WHICH IS PUBLISHED AND CIRCULATED IN THE
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POLITICAL SUBDIVISION WHERE THE MEETING WILL BE HELD, OR
IN A NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION WHICH HAS A BONA
FIDE PAID CIRCULATION IN THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISION EQUAL
TO OR GREATER THAN ANY NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN THE
POLITICAL SUBDIVISION.
(II) POSTING A NOTICE OF THE PLACE, DATE AND TIME OF
A MEETING PROMINENTLY AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE
AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING OR AT THE PUBLIC BUILDING IN
WHICH THE MEETING IS TO BE HELD.
(III) GIVING NOTICE TO PARTIES UNDER SECTION 709(C)
(RELATING TO PUBLIC NOTICE).
(IV) PUBLICATION USING AN ALTERNATIVE PUBLICATION
METHOD AS DEFINED BY 45 PA.C.S. § 101 (RELATING TO
DEFINITIONS) SATISFIES THIS REQUIREMENT.
(2) FOR A RECESSED OR RECONVENED MEETING:
(I) POSTING A NOTICE OF THE PLACE, DATE AND TIME OF
THE MEETING PROMINENTLY AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE
AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING OR AT THE PUBLIC BUILDING IN
WHICH THE MEETING IS TO BE HELD.
(II) GIVING NOTICE TO PARTIES UNDER SECTION 709(C).
* * *
SECTION 5. WITHIN 90 DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
SECTION, COUNTIES SHALL DESIGNATE AN OFFICE AS THE MAIN CONTACT
FOR RECEIVING PUBLIC NOTICES FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS.
CONTACT INFORMATION, INCLUDING PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL ADDRESS,
SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO EACH LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT THAT
RESIDES IN THE COUNTY.
SECTION 6. THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT AS FOLLOWS:
(1) SECTION 5 OF THIS ACT AND THIS SECTION SHALL TAKE
EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
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(2) THE REMAINDER OF THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 90
DAYS.
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