An Act allowing “print-free” digital legal notices for the town of Wellesley
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 7/27/2026 | Senate | Read; and placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session |
| 7/23/2026 | House | Read third and passed to be engrossed |
| 7/23/2025 | House | Read second and ordered to a third reading |
| 7/23/2025 | House | Rules suspended |
| 7/23/2025 | House | Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting |
| 7/14/2025 | House | Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling |
| 6/3/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 06/10/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-1 |
| 5/15/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 5/12/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government |
No additional cosponsors.
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J10 | Favorable | 1 entries |
| H52 | Place in OD | — |
| H36 | Correctly Drawn | — |
Purpose. In light of the lack of an available adequate print newspaper in the town of Wellesley, the purpose of this act is to allow the town of Wellesley, including the Select Board, the School Committee, the Planning Board, and all other elected or appointed boards and committees, or municipal officials, to satisfy legal notice requirements entirely by digital publications.
Process. Where legal notice in a newspaper or a newspaper of general circulation is required by statute, bylaw, or judicial order, alternative means of posting such notice, as specified in section 3 of this Act, may be used if approved by a majority vote of the public body or at the discretion of the municipal official legally required to post such notice.
Means of Legal Notice Publication. Notwithstanding section 13(b) of chapter 4 of the General Laws, and subject to section 2 of this Act, whenever legal notice in a newspaper or newspaper of general circulation is required by statute, bylaw, or judicial order, such notice requirement shall be satisfied by posting notice in one or more of the following places: (A) A print newspaper of local or general circulation; (B) A newspaper’s website; (C) Websites reporting local news and opinion which satisfy the criteria for digital publication as set forth in said section 13(b) of said chapter 4; (D) A statewide website that may be maintained as a repository for such notices; or (E) A townwide website that may be maintained as a repository for such notices.
Legal Requirements. Nothing set forth in this Act shall be construed to alter or amend the timing requirements of the publication of legal notices set forth in statute, bylaw, or judicial order.
This act shall take effect upon its passage.
SECTION 1. Purpose. In light of the lack of an available adequate print newspaper in the town of Wellesley, the purpose of this act is to allow the town of Wellesley, including the Select Board, the School Committee, the Planning Board, and all other elected or appointed boards and committees, or municipal officials, to satisfy legal notice requirements entirely by digital publications. SECTION 2. Process. Where legal notice in a newspaper or a newspaper of general circulation is required by statute, bylaw, or judicial order, alternative means of posting such notice, as specified in section 3 of this Act, may be used if approved by a majority vote of the public body or at the discretion of the municipal official legally required to post such notice. SECTION 3. Means of Legal Notice Publication. Notwithstanding section 13(b) of chapter 4 of the General Laws, and subject to section 2 of this Act, whenever legal notice in a newspaper or newspaper of general circulation is required by statute, bylaw, or judicial order, such notice requirement shall be satisfied by posting notice in one or more of the following places: (A) A print newspaper of local or general circulation; (B) A newspaper’s website; (C) Websites reporting local news and opinion which satisfy the criteria for digital publication as set forth in said section 13(b) of said chapter 4; (D) A statewide website that may be maintained as a repository for such notices; or (E) A townwide website that may be maintained as a repository for such notices. SECTION 4. Legal Requirements. Nothing set forth in this Act shall be construed to alter or amend the timing requirements of the publication of legal notices set forth in statute, bylaw, or judicial order. SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon its passage.