An Act allowing "print-free" digital legal notices for the town of Westford
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 5/28/2026 | House | Read second and ordered to a third reading |
| 5/28/2026 | House | Rules suspended |
| 5/28/2026 | House | Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting |
| 5/18/2026 | House | Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling |
| 5/13/2026 | Joint | Hearing rescheduled to 05/13/2026 from 10:00 AM-10:10 AM in B-1 and Virtual — Hearing updated to New End Time |
| 5/13/2026 | Joint | Hearing rescheduled to 05/13/2026 from 10:00 AM-10:10 PM in B-1 and Virtual — Hearing updated to New End Time |
| 4/30/2026 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 05/13/2026 from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM in B-1 |
| 4/27/2026 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 4/23/2026 | House | Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government |
No additional cosponsors.
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J10 | Favorable | 1 entries |
| H52 | Place in OD | — |
| Bill | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| H4313 | An Act allowing "print-free" digital legal notices for the town of North Brookfield | Active |
Notwithstanding subsection (b) of section 13 of chapter 4 of the General Laws, wherever the Town of Westford or Westford public schools or their subdivisions, committees, boards, commissions or offices are required by statute, ordinance, by-law or judicial order to publish a legal notice in a newspaper or newspaper of general circulation, such requirement may be met through 1 or more of the following means: (i) a print newspaper of local or general circulation; (ii) a newspaper’s website; (iii) websites reporting local news and opinion which satisfy all criteria for digital publication as set forth in said subsection (c) of said section 13 of said chapter 4; (iv) a statewide website that may be maintained as a repository for such notices; or (v) a town-wide website that may be maintained as a repository for such notices.
Nothing set forth in this act shall be construed to alter or amend the time or timing of publication of legal notices set forth in the General Laws.
This act shall take effect upon its passage.
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding subsection (b) of section 13 of chapter 4 of the General Laws, wherever the Town of Westford or Westford public schools or their subdivisions, committees, boards, commissions or offices are required by statute, ordinance, by-law or judicial order to publish a legal notice in a newspaper or newspaper of general circulation, such requirement may be met through 1 or more of the following means: (i) a print newspaper of local or general circulation; (ii) a newspaper’s website; (iii) websites reporting local news and opinion which satisfy all criteria for digital publication as set forth in said subsection (c) of said section 13 of said chapter 4; (iv) a statewide website that may be maintained as a repository for such notices; or (v) a town-wide website that may be maintained as a repository for such notices. SECTION 2. Nothing set forth in this act shall be construed to alter or amend the time or timing of publication of legal notices set forth in the General Laws. SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.