Bill > SB437

This bill modernizes Oregon's public notice laws by introducing the concept of a "news publication" to replace the traditional definition of a "newspaper", effectively expanding the ways in which public notices can be published. The bill allows public notices to be published in digital formats and broadens the definition of acceptable publications beyond traditional print newspapers. Key provisions include defining a "news publication" as a publication that conducts consistent local news coverage, is published in English, and has been regularly published for at least 12 consecutive months, with allowances for brief interruptions due to specific circumstances like labor disputes or natural disasters. The bill amends multiple Oregon Revised Statutes to replace references to "newspaper" with "news publication", thereby enabling government entities, legal professionals, and other parties to publish required public notices in online news publications that meet certain criteria. This change reflects the evolving media landscape and provides more flexibility in how public information is disseminated, potentially making public notices more accessible to a wider audience through digital platforms. The bill also repeals several existing statutes related to newspaper publications, further solidifying the transition to a more modern approach to public notices.

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/SB437