H 5603

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 6278  FILED ON: 7/20/2026
 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 5603
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  _________________
  PRESENTED BY:
  Kate Hogan
  _________________
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 authorizing “print-free” digital legal notices for the town of Stow.
  _______________
  PETITION OF:
NAME:  DISTRICT/ADDRESS:  DATE ADDED:
Kate Hogan  3rd Middlesex  7/20/2026
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  HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 6278  FILED ON: 7/20/2026
 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 5603
By Representative Hogan of Stow, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5603) of Kate
Hogan (by vote of the town) that the town of Stow be authorized to use print-free digital legal
notices in said town. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  _______________
  In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
  (2025-2026)
  _______________
An Act authorizing “print-free” digital legal notices for the town of Stow.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1SECTION 1. Notwithstanding subsection (b) of section 13 of chapter 4 of the General
2 Laws, wherever the town of Stow or its subdivisions, committees, boards, commissions or
3 offices are required by statute, ordinance, by-law or judicial order to publish a legal notice in a
4 newspaper or newspaper of general circulation, such requirement may be met through 1 or more
5 of the following means:
6(i) a print newspaper of local or general circulation;
7(ii) the website of a newspaper of local or general circulation;
8(iii) websites reporting local news and opinion that satisfy all criteria for digital
9 publication as set forth in subsection (c) of said section 13 of said chapter 4;
10(iv) a statewide website that is maintained as a repository for such notices; or
11(v) a town-wide website that is maintained as a repository for such notices.
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12SECTION 2. Nothing set forth in this act shall be construed to alter or amend the time or
13 timing of publication of legal notices set forth in the General Laws.
14SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
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