On December 31, 2024, Governor Murphy signed into law A-5151/S-3957, which allows public bodies to continue using newspapers for required public notices and legal advertisements until March 1, 2025. The new law took effect on December 31, 2024.
The new law permits any newspaper used by a public body as the official newspaper from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, to still meet the definition of a newspaper under the law regardless of physical or digital format of the newspaper’s publication from January 1, 2025, to March 1, 2025. The publication could be in print or electronic format. This temporary fix applies to all public notices including but not limited to meeting notices, solicitation of bids, and publication of ordinances.
The fee for publishing public notices cannot exceed the existing statutory rates. If electronic, newspapers cannot charge a fee or require registration to view the public or legal advertisements.
We thank the Governor, legislative leaders, and legislators for quickly passing a temporary fix. The League of Municipalities joins the New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC) and New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) in supporting a permanent fix and looks forward to working with legislators and stakeholders on a long-term solution.
Contact: Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director, 609-695-3481 ext. 112, lbuckelew@njlm.org