Dear MCANJ Members:

Earlier this week, the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Assembly Appropriations Committee amended and advanced legislation (S-3957/A-5151) to address publication of public notices in light of the recent Star Ledger announcement of an all-digital newspaper starting in February 2025.

S-3957/A-5151 would allow any newspaper used by a public body as the official newspaper from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, to still meet the definition of a newspaper under the law regardless of physical or digital format of the newspaper’s publication from January 1, 2025, to March 1, 2025.

The amendments clarified that this temporary fix would apply for all public notices including but not limited to meeting notices, solicitation of bids, and publication of ordinances; the newspaper’s publication could be in print or electronic format; the fee for publishing public notices cannot exceed the existing statutory rates; and if electronic, the newspapers cannot charge a fee or require registration to view the public or legal advertisements. 

On Thursday, both the Assembly and Senate passed S-3957/A-5151. The vote was 49-20 in the Assembly and 36-0 in the Senate. The bill now awaits consideration by Governor Murphy.

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ALSO: Both the Assembly and Senate unanimously passed A-5152/S-3965, which moves the June 2025 Primary Election date from June 3^rd to June 10^th due to the observance of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot.

In addition to rescheduling the June 2025 primary election date to June 10, 2025, the bill also requires the Secretary of State to make all necessary adjustments to all deadlines required to be met ahead of the Primary Election and publish a calendar with the adjusted dates with the exception for the deadline for nominating petitions, drawing for ballot position, and mail-in ballot mailing deadlines. The Secretary of State will also be required to provide all county clerks, county boards of elections, superintendents of elections, municipal clerks, and members of the public with notice of the change.

It is anticipated that the Governor will sign the legislation.

Once the Executive Board has been updated on both bills, we will let you know-

Thanks!

Michele