Bill > H518

This bill establishes a new process for local governments and school administrative units in North Carolina to contract for publishing legal notices. Specifically, the bill requires units of local government to secure informal bids annually at the start of each fiscal year for publishing notices, with the goal of maximizing competition and ensuring the best value for public funds. Contracts must be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, considering factors like quality, performance, circulation reach, and cost. The bill mandates that records of submitted bids remain confidential until a contract is awarded. If no local newspaper is eligible to publish notices, the contract can be awarded to an eligible newspaper in another jurisdiction. The legislation also updates existing law to clarify that legal advertising rates should be in accordance with the new competitive bidding process, and requires newspapers to file sworn statements of their commercial advertising rates. Newspapers that do not comply with these requirements could be subject to a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2026, and will apply to notices published on or after that date.

Government Affairs

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H518