H 5387

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 6060  FILED ON: 4/21/2026
 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 5387
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  _________________
  PRESENTED BY:
  James Arciero
  _________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
        Court assembled:
        The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
  An Act allowing "print-free" digital legal notices for the town of Westford.
  _______________
  PETITION OF:
NAME:  DISTRICT/ADDRESS:  DATE ADDED:
James Arciero  2nd Middlesex  4/21/2026
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  HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 6060  FILED ON: 4/21/2026
      HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 5387
     By Representative Arciero of Westford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5387) of
     James Arciero (by vote of the town) for legislation to authorize print-free digital legal notices in
     the town of Westford. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  _______________
  In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
  (2025-2026)
  _______________
     An Act allowing "print-free" digital legal notices for the town of Westford.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
     of the same, as follows:
 1  SECTION 1. Notwithstanding subsection (b) of section 13 of chapter 4 of the General
 2   Laws, wherever the Town of Westford or Westford public schools or their subdivisions,
 3   committees, boards, commissions or offices are required by statute, ordinance, by-law or judicial
 4   order to publish a legal notice in a newspaper or newspaper of general circulation, such
 5   requirement may be met through 1 or more of the following means: (i) a print newspaper of local
 6   or general circulation; (ii) a newspaper’s website; (iii) websites reporting local news and opinion
 7   which satisfy all criteria for digital publication as set forth in said subsection (c) of said section
 8   13 of said chapter 4; (iv) a statewide website that may be maintained as a repository for such
 9   notices; or (v) a town-wide website that may be maintained as a repository for such notices.
10  SECTION 2. Nothing set forth in this act shall be construed to alter or amend the time or
11   timing of publication of legal notices set forth in the General Laws.
12  SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
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