Bills let more N.C. local governments bypass newspaper notices
RALEIGH (AP) More local governments in North Carolina could bypass newspapers and instead post public notices online in legislation advancing in the state House.
A pair of bills approved by a judiciary committee this week would allow city councils and county commissioners in about two dozen counties put notices for items like zoning and annexation proposals, vendor contracts and other public hearings on county-operated websites. State law otherwise requires these notices and advertisements be printed in the newspaper.
Backers of the measures, versions of which have surfaced often over the past decade, say the switch could help cash-strapped local governments cut advertising costs, The Insider news service reported.
Recent editorials from North Carolina newspapers: Feb. 16 The Greensboro Record & News and the Winston-Salem Journal on the North Carolina Republican Party’s decision to censure U.S. Sen. Richard Burr for voting to convict Donald Trump at his second impeachment trial: In our imagination, we picture Sen. Richard Burr, older and grayer, sitting by a campfire, holding forth to a young audience. “Back in my day, we had a thing called the.
Opinion | NC lawmakers dilute transparency with a maneuver that shows why we need it ansonrecord.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ansonrecord.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Two state House bills focused on legal notices cleared their first committee step Tuesday.
The House Judiciary 4 approved House bills 35 and 51 by voice votes. The next step is to Local Government and a potential referral to Finance.
Reps. Julia Howard, R-Davie, and Jeff Zenger, R-Forsyth, are the regional members on Judiciary 4.
Both bills would allow local governments to file their required legal notices on their websites, rather than in local newspapers. The bills combined affect 24 counties. The bills would become effective when signed into law.
Republican-sponsored HB35 included Davidson, Forsyth and Rockingham counties in the Triad when filed Jan. 28.
However, primary co-sponsor Rep. Harry Warren, R-Rowan, said Jan. 29 there was a miscommunication with the Forsyth delegation about Forsyth s inclusion.