(a) This section applies only to a notice published by a governmental entity or representative in a county:
- (1) with a population of at least 30,000 and not more than 42,000 that borders the Red River; or
- (2) that does not have a newspaper described by Section 2051.044 published in the county.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), the newspaper in which a notice is published under this section must:
- (1) devote not less than 20 percent of its total column lineage to general interest items;
- (2) be published at least once each week;
- (3) be entered as periodical postal matter in the county where published or have a mailed or delivered circulation of at least 51 percent of the residences in the county where published; and
- (4) have been published regularly and continuously for at least 12 months before the governmental entity or representative publishes notice.
(b-1) In lieu of publishing a notice in a newspaper under Subsection (b), a governmental entity may publish a notice in a digital newspaper if that digital newspaper:
- (1) has an audited paid-subscriber base;
- (2) has been in business for at least three years;
- (3) employs staff in the jurisdiction of the governmental entity;
- (4) reports on local events and governmental activities in the jurisdiction of the governmental entity;
- (5) provides news of general interest to people in the jurisdiction of the governmental entity; and
- (6) updates its news at least once each week.
- (c) A weekly newspaper has been published regularly and continuously under Subsection (b) if the newspaper omits not more than two issues in the 12-month period.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1130, Sec. 2, eff. June 20, 2003.
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 768 (H.B. 1812), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 799 (H.B. 2985), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 644 (H.B. 4559), Sec. 64, eff. September 1, 2023.
Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 52 (S.B. 1062), Sec. 1, eff. May 19, 2025.