Thank you.

June and other legislative news.

Government agencies are often required to post public notices and local newspapers as a form of transparency, so that the public knows what local governments are doing.

But the cost of these required notices has been a point of conflict for more than a decade, according to some state lawmakers.

As our Mackenzie Spink tells us about House Bill 141, which is Senate Bill 141, supporters say finally, the right balance has been achieved.

Every government agency has a website where public notices, also known as illegal ads, can be posted for free.

So why require local newspapers to print these communications?

Lawmakers say communities without internet access have a right to see these notices as well.

On the other hand, there is concern about the cost burden on smaller local newspapers in these areas.

This issue we have before us today is about public advertising in typically going to be local papers, because this is local government challenged with that charge that we give them of transparency and notice providing.

But at the same time, we want to be responsible for taxpayers expenses.

So the conflict comes in that space of being a transparent government that provides notice but minimize the taxpayer spend.

Senate Bill 141 is a result of a partnership between the Kentucky League of Cities, Kentucky Association of Counties, and the Kentucky Press Association.

It says that when a newspaper receives a legal ad from a government agency, it must be published in the next print edition of the paper or within seven days, whichever is first.

Additionally, the newspaper has 24 hours to send the public notice to key public notice.com.

A third party website run by the Kentucky Press Association.

It also requires faster online posting and inclusion in a centralized, statewide public notice website hosted by the Kentucky Press Association.

I do want to emphasize this that Kentucky's Press Association has volunteered themselves under this bill to put a mandate on all papers to publish these legal notices on their website.

It also establishes clear timelines and responsibilities for newspapers publishing required ads.

We've modernized, we've reduced the cost, and we've provided a 24 seven, 365 access to the public via the public notice.com website, with no cost to the state.

The bill's proponents say making public notice is the purview of the Kentucky Press Association lessens the burden on local newspapers, especially in areas without internet access.

Typically, with bills like these, there's always concerns with rural newspapers, specifically in areas without internet access.

Could you address how the bill addresses that concern specifically?

The local papers do have to send their notices to the Kentucky Press Association's website.

There is not a requirement like the bills we have seen in the past, where all newspaper notices and things like that have to go on the newspaper's website.

So, you know, they can call the Kentucky Press Association and say, this is what I need you to post and things like that.

So the notices will also be circulated in those written hardcopy papers, and the internet posting would just be in addition to that hard copy.

Senate Bill 141 passed the House Local Government Committee this morning.

It will next head to the House floor.

The bill passed the full Senate 36 to 1 last month.

For Kentucky edition I'm Mackenzie Spink.