OFFICIAL JOURNALS: Provides for publishing information and notices on a political subdivision's website
Summary
HB 997 would allow certain Louisiana political subdivisions to choose either a newspaper or their official website as their “official journal” for required public notices, proceedings, and related publications. The bill applies to police juries, city and parish councils, municipal corporations, school boards, and certain special districts such as levee, drainage, road, navigation, and sewerage districts. It keeps the annual selection process in June and preserves existing requirements for filing the selection with the secretary of state, while adding the website address when a website is chosen.
If a subdivision selects its website as its official journal, the bill permits—but does not require—it to also publish copies of official proceedings and public notices in a newspaper. For municipal corporations, the bill preserves the current rule that if a newspaper is selected, it must be physically located within municipal boundaries when one is available. The bill also retains existing law for newspaper-based official journals while expanding the definition of acceptable official journal to include an official website.
Impact
HB 997 would amend Louisiana’s official journal statutes in Title 43 by authorizing a website-based official journal option for certain local governments and special districts. It would change R.S. 43:141, 145, 150, and 171 to recognize official websites alongside newspapers, require notice to the secretary of state of the website address when applicable, and allow optional newspaper publication even when a website is used. The bill would affect local governing bodies, school boards, special districts, newspapers that currently serve as official journals, and the secretary of state’s records of official journal designations.
Sentiment
The available record shows the bill was pending in the House and Governmental Affairs Committee and had not yet been acted on in the provided materials. No committee transcript or recorded vote is included, so there is no documented debate or formal vote history to indicate support or opposition. Based on the bill’s structure, it appears designed as a modernization measure to give local governments more flexibility in how they publish required notices.
Contention
The main likely point of contention is the shift from mandatory newspaper publication to allowing an official website to serve as the official journal. Supporters would likely view this as a cost-saving and modernization measure that reflects how the public accesses information, while opponents may argue it could reduce visibility, weaken access for residents without reliable internet, or harm newspapers that depend on official journal notices. Another possible issue is whether optional newspaper publication is sufficient to preserve public notice and transparency when a website is selected.