Bill
Bill > A2897
NJ A2897
NJ A2897Requires DCA to establish online, Statewide database of local government unit legal notices.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill requires the Department of Community Affairs (department) to establish and maintain a database for the purpose of providing the general public with a single, Statewide, access point for locating and viewing local government unit legal notices. Under the bill, whenever a local government unit is required by law to publish a legal notice in one or more newspapers, the local government unit may satisfy that requirement by transmitting the legal notice to the department for inclusion, without charge or fee, on the department's centralized database of local government unit legal notices. The bill affords discretion to the department to determine the manner in which it may require a local government unit to submit legal notices to the department for inclusion in the database. The bill requires the department to prominently post the database on the department's Internet website.
AI Summary
This bill mandates that the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) create and manage a centralized, online, Statewide database accessible to the public, which will serve as a single point of access for all legal notices that local government units are required to publish in newspapers. A "local government unit" is defined as any municipality, county, or other political subdivision of the state, including their agencies or authorities. A "legal notice" refers to any official advertisement a local government unit must publish in a newspaper according to law or court rules. The bill allows these local government units to fulfill their legal obligation to publish notices by submitting them to the DCA for inclusion in this database, free of charge. The DCA will determine the specific format and method for submitting these notices and must prominently display the database on its website, providing the submitting local government unit with a link to the notice once it's posted online, which is referred to as "electronic publication" in formats like HTML or PDF. This new system is intended to streamline public access to important local government information, moving beyond traditional newspaper advertisements.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A2897 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A3000/2897_I1.HTM |
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