Mississippi Senate Bill SB2909

Mississippi 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/19/24
• Refer: 2/19/24
• Failed: 3/5/24

Caption

Publication of public business notice; increase legal rate in newspaper and provide for correction notice on website.

Impact

One significant aspect of SB2909 is the provision that allows for corrections of legal notices to be published on the website of the newspaper or the official website of the county or municipality. In the event of an error in a public notice, the corrected information must be posted online within two business days, as well as being included in the next newspaper edition. This measure is designed to enhance public access to accurate information and to ensure that errors do not hinder the fulfillment of legal requirements for public notices.

Summary

Senate Bill 2909 aims to amend Section 25-7-65 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 to increase the legal rate that printers and publishers can charge for the publication of public business notices. The bill specifies that the fees for publishing such notices in newspapers will rise from 12 cents to 20 cents for the first insertion per word and from 10 cents to 18 cents for subsequent insertions. This change reflects an effort to modernize the fees associated with public notice publishing, likely in response to inflation and the increasing costs of operations for newspapers.

Contention

While proponents of SB2909 might argue that the bill will enhance transparency and update the financial framework for legal notices, there is potential for contention surrounding the increased costs for public notice publishing. Critics may point out that raising the rates could disproportionately affect smaller municipalities or businesses that depend on these publications for critical updates. Additionally, the shift to online corrections could raise concerns regarding accessibility for residents who may not utilize digital platforms as frequently, potentially creating a gap in public awareness of important local governmental actions.