Amends TCA Title 1 and Title 8, Chapter 44.

This bill provides that when a public notice or legal notice is required to be published in a newspaper of general circulation, the public notice or legal notice must also be published on a news and information website, if available, that meets the following criteria: (1) The website is operated by an entity that is headquartered in the county in which the notice is required to be published; (2) The website is updated regularly at least once a week; (3) The website has been in continuous operation during the immediately preceding one-year period; (4) The website disseminates news of general interest to the community that it serves; and (5) The website is accessible at no charge by members of the public in the community that it serves. ON APRIL 1, 2024, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2114, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, provide that when legal notices are required to be published in a newspaper of general circulation, the notice must also be published on a news and information website that has a URL, if such a website exists, that: (1) Has been published continuously for the previous 12-month period; (2) Has been published using recognized standards of professional journalism; (3) Must have content revised on a regular basis not less than three times per week; (4) Bears a fixed title or name and date lines and complies with and abides by all copyright laws; (5) Does not serve primarily as a platform to promote the interests or opinions of a special interest group, individual, or cause; (6) Is principally devoted to the dissemination of local or general news with at least 50 percent of all editorial content reported being original, excluding advertisements; and (7) Exists and is registered pursuant to state law with the secretary of state. The news and information website must have an office of publication known to be based in the county in which the notice is required to be published and that is available and open to the public where business is transacted during usual business hours, that maintains a telephone number and email listing, and that includes in each updated publication the contact information of the news and information website.